US clears sale of latest Patriot anti-missile system to India
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, June 15, IRNA
India-US-Missile
The US has cleared sale of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) anti-missile system to India on the eve of the Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to the US later this month, reports 'The Indian Express'.
The report said the American decision has been conveyed to the highest level of the Indian government. This decision showcases the American desire to intensify defence ties with New Delhi.
The US authorities have given green signal to the manufacturers Lockheed Martin to give technical presentation to India on the state-of-the-art anti-missile defence system.
The latest US decision to sell PAC-3 to India is a progress from its earlier decision to sell PAC-2 to New Delhi. Unlike its previous versions, PAC-3 does not carry any explosives relying instead on kinetic energy (hit to kill concept) to eliminate short and medium range missiles carrying nuclear, biological and chemical warheads.
The PAC-3 system carries smaller but four times more missiles than PAC-2 and has a longer range. The US Army has inducted 175 PAC-3 systems till this year.
It is expected that the sale of the advanced anti-missile system along with the F-16 and F-18 fighter jets will be discussed with the Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, during his coming visit to the US beginning on June 27.
In the meanwhile, US has offered to sell to India F-16 fighter jets and its advanced versions besides entering into a co-production agreement for the war-planes. An announcement to this effect was made by US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca in Washington D.C.
Tuesday.
Rocca told house international relations subcommittee for Asia and Pacific that the decision for co-production "is a big step" in US-India relationship and shows that the relationship between the two countries is becoming "ever closer".
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