- India and the US have set up the first ever secure communication link between the naval headquarters in New Delhi and US Central as well as Pacific Naval Commands.The link has been setup under the landmark Indo-US Communications,Compatibility & Security Agreement (COMCASA) signed by both the countries in the year 2018.
- The US has also activated the Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module GPS system in some of C-130 and C-17 transport aircraft as a result of the implementation of the COMCASA.
- In the case of the C-130s and C-17s, the systems were purchased but not activated because the US said it could not part with the encryption codes until the enabling COMCASA pact is signed.The two upgrades will allow both sides to share real-time operational intelligence.
- Further,the establishment of a secure active link between the two navies is being seen as a significant step forward as India will gain access to latest US naval intelligence besides conducting joint operations in the future.
- COMCASA is an India-specific version of the Communication and Information on Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA).It comes into force immediately and is valid for a period of 10 years.
- COMCASA is one of the four foundational agreements that the U.S. signs with allies and close partners to facilitate interoperability between militaries and sale of high end technology.
- India had signed the General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002 and the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016. The last one remaining is the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA).
