US interested in co-development of weapons with India: Pentagon

Foreseeing India as a major military partner in the long-run, the US today said it was working to transfer some of its most advanced technology to New Delhi and offering co-development of weapon systems including on the futuristic Joint Strike Fighter.

In a one-of-its kind report on India submitted to the US Congress, the Pentagon said it was also pursuing new avenues of collaboration in maritime security and counter-terrorism.

Envisaging building up of robust and mutually beneficial" defence ties over the next five years, the report said that it is in US interest to support India's rise through military-to-military ties, arms sales and joint exercises.

Asserting that it is in the US' interest to support India's rise through military-to-military ties, arms sales and exercises, the Congressional in its annual budget for the fiscal 2012 had sought a report from Pentagon by November 1 on a five-year action plan to strengthen bilateral defence ties.

The report noted that in less than a decade, starting at zero, the foreign military sales to India have shot up to approximately USD 6 billion.

The sales include C-17 and C-130J transport aircraft, TPQ-37 fire-finding radars, Self-Protection Suites (SPS) for VVIP aircraft, specialised tactical equipment, Harpoon missiles, Sensor-Fuzed Weapons, and carrier flight and test pilot school training.

Though the US companies lost in the race for bagging India's lucrative USD 10 billion contract for 126 jets, the Pentagon informed the Congress that it is seriously interested in making India join in the multi-nation project to develop the stealth F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.