NEW DELHI, March 13  -- India and the United Stateshave finalized a new framework agreement on defense cooperation which would replace the existing deal which expires in June, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said Friday.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, or lower house of parliament, the minister said that a dialogue has been established between India and the United States under the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) for co-development and co-production of unique and exceptional technologies of mutual interest, according to the Press Trust of India.

India and the United States had agreed to extend the Defense Cooperation Agreement and identified four projects under DTTI for joint production and development and exploring cooperation for jet engines and aircraft carriersystems, when U.S. President Barack Obamavisited Delhi in January.

The two countries also had agreed to set up a working group to explore aircraft carrier technology and design and develop jet engine technology in India.

The projects identified under the DTTI include next-generation Raven mini-unmanned aerial vehicles, roll-on, roll-off intelligence kits for C-130 transport aircraft and mobile electric hybrid power source.