India wants US to allow high-end weapons technology tie-ups

Keen to diversify its weapons procurement sourcing, India has told US to ease its export control restrictions to allow high-end weapons technology tie-ups between the two nations.

Saying that export control restrictions were a "matter of concern", the defence minister AK Antony beginning his crucial visit here said, "we want an early solution to that (export control restriction)."

With the transfer of weapons technology and sale of American armament systems and platforms high on his agenda, Antony, ahead of his talks with top Pentagon officials here said India now wants to transform its military-to-military relationship from a buyer-seller to co-production and joint production of armament systems.

India which was dependent on Russian technology and armaments in the Cold War era has recently sought to diversify
its weapons purchases and concluded multi billion dollar deals
with the US to purchase weapon locating radars, giant transport aircraft, new technology long-range naval surveillance planes and giant warships.

US has expressed its readiness to sell India high-end weapons technology, but Congressional export control restrictions are coming in the way of sale of frontline weapon systems.

Referring to these restrictions, Antony, heading a high-level defence delegation comprising top officials from his ministry and high ranking officers from the three services told reporters on arrival, "Both countries have a stake in strengthening military ties."

On procurements, the defence minister said that the defence sales had increased steadily in high technology areas.

"Many are in the pipeline... some through multi-vendor routes,
many more would come."

In the course of his stay here, Antony would hold wide-ranging talks with defence secretary Robert Gates, secretary of state Hillary Clinton and national security advisor Gen (Retd) James Jones.

Echoing sentiments expressed by Antony, the US defence secretary has said that Washington is keen to strengthen and
expand America's military-to-military ties with India.
 
On India's concerns over restrictions on export of high technology items, Gates said that this was high on the agenda and we would like to see these restrictions removed.