The Hindu : National : `India should bargain with U.S. for offensive weapons'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 01, 2004

National

National

`India should bargain with U.S. for offensive weapons'

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, NOV. 30. The Indian military arsenal is mainly defensive because few nations, with the exception of Russia, are willing to sell it offensive weapons, said Vice-Admiral Madanjit Singh, flag officer commanding-in-chief of the Western Naval Command.

Admiral Singh, who was talking to reporters on board INS Viraat here today, said Russia was truly a strategic partner giving India some offensive weapons such as the Brahmos missile and India too had developed some. Responding to a question about the U.S. offer of Orion PC 3 surveillance aircraft, Admiral Singh said India should respond by bargaining for offensive weapons such as the Tomahawk cruise missiles since Indo-U.S. relations were improving.

In his view, Orion alone was not a good offer. "It is an old aircraft and its introduction could pose problems of spare parts though the U.S. has assured us that the deal would not be subjected to sanctions. It should be accompanied by something more."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National