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| Afghanistan/South Asia | |
| US, India discuss military deal amid improving ties | |
| 2005-03-24 | |
| WASHINGTON - India's chief of naval staff Admiral Arun Prakash, who is on a US visit, discussed purchase of American equipment and systems as part of stepped up defense cooperation, it was announced here on Wednesday. Details of the purchase were not announced but New Delhi had said this week that a contract was likely to be signed for the purchase of submarine rescue vehicles. India is also reportedly working out a deal for the purchase of 10 retrofitted Lockheed Martin P3C Orion long-range naval maritime spy aircraft to plug gaps in reconnaissance capability. Prakash, on a 10-day visit to the United States since March 19, held talks with top defense officials "which focused on ways to further India-US naval cooperation including joint exercises and acquisition of US equipment and systems for the Indian Navy," the Indian embassy said in a statement. "Both sides reiterated their determination to strengthen all aspects of defense cooperation in the context of the transformed India-US relationship," it said. "The two sides reaffirmed that the bilateral relationship has been on a steadily ascendant trajectory in recent years and has gained greater strategic content," the embassy said.
The supply of submarine rescue vehicles along with flying kits and P3C Orions would be the second largest defence deal between the two countries in recent years, news reports have said. Admiral Prakash's itinerary includes visits to US Navy bases and facilities at Norfolk, Newport, Colorado Springs, Seattle and Hawaii. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |