The Hindu : Karnataka News : U.S. for furthering strategic ties with India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 11, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

U.S. for furthering strategic ties with India

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 10. The U.S. is looking to India for outsourcing again. This time, the American aerospace industry is looking to Indian defence equipment manufacturers.

"We view the Indian defence sector not only as a market, but also as a potential supplier and partner, and we will be seeking through our discussions to identify additional opportunities in all these areas," a retired Joint Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force and Vice-Chairman of the Cohen Group, General Joseph W. Raltson, told presspersons here.

Gen. Raltson and the former U.S. Ambassador to India, Thomas R. Pickering, are leading a 12-member delegation from American defence and aerospace firms at the Aero India 2005 here to boost confidence and improve business relationships. "We are interested in and actively pursuing both major platform tenders as well as sub-systems, and other components," Mr. Ralston said.

India has requested information on fighter jets from the U.S., Russia, Sweden and France. The Indian Air Force plans to buy 126 multi-role supersonic fighters to replace the ageing MiG jets.

Mr. Pickering said the U.S. wants to further its strategic relationships with India.

Asked about the reservations expressed by the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, over the reliability of a long-term tie-up with the U.S., he said the delegates met the Minister and clarified their stand.

He said once the delegates returned to Washington, they will meet the officials of the U.S. Department of Defence and the U.S. Department of State to brief them about the interactions they had with their Indian counterparts. The team includes senior executives from Boeing Co, The Cohen Group, BAe Systems North America, Bell Helicopters, The Fremont Group, General Dynamics, International Turbine Engine Company (Honeywell), Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (United Technologies).

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