<p>US is looking forward to expand its military ties with India including the potential sale of F-35 stealth fighter aircraft, although no decision have been made so far, a top State Department official said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"We have made tremendous progress in the defence trade relationship. Now we're at USD 8 billion, we think there's going to be billion dollars more in the next couple of years," said Andrew Shapiro, the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.<br /><br />When asked about a potential sale of the fifth generation F-35 stealth fighter aircrafts to India, he said there might also be down the road some potential for it, but certainly no decision has been made regarding that.<br /><br />It was earlier speculated that the US might offer the famed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to India, following India's rejection of the F/A-18 and F-16 fighters in the multi-million dollar MMRCA deal.<br /><br />"So we are on track," Shapiro told reporters in response to a question at the Washington Foreign Press Center.<br /><br />He added that the Deputy Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter is heading up a defence trade initiative with India, which the US believes is making some good progress and will, hopefully, lead to even a greater pace of additional defence trade with India.<br /><br />Last year, Shapiro had led the US delegation for the first ever political-military dialogue with India in six years.<br /><br />"It was significant because we were able to help our Indian counterparts work through the challenges of inter agency cooperation on national security issues," said Shapiro.<br />"Indian officials' have remarked that this dialogue is especially helpful in helping coordinate between the various inter-agency partners in India," he added.<br /><br />Responding to question on news reports that India might reopen its multi-billion dollar fighter jet deal, he said the American companies would have to consider if they want to participate in it.<br /><br />"I wouldn't say we were kicked out (of the fighter jet deal). I would say there was a selection process where they made a determination to down select to the two and eventually to select the Rafale," he said.<br /><br />"I have been reading in the Indian press various rumors about that transaction. We have no official communication from the Indian government and obviously if there was a reopening, US companies would have to consider whether they want to participate," Shapiro added.</p>
<p>US is looking forward to expand its military ties with India including the potential sale of F-35 stealth fighter aircraft, although no decision have been made so far, a top State Department official said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"We have made tremendous progress in the defence trade relationship. Now we're at USD 8 billion, we think there's going to be billion dollars more in the next couple of years," said Andrew Shapiro, the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.<br /><br />When asked about a potential sale of the fifth generation F-35 stealth fighter aircrafts to India, he said there might also be down the road some potential for it, but certainly no decision has been made regarding that.<br /><br />It was earlier speculated that the US might offer the famed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to India, following India's rejection of the F/A-18 and F-16 fighters in the multi-million dollar MMRCA deal.<br /><br />"So we are on track," Shapiro told reporters in response to a question at the Washington Foreign Press Center.<br /><br />He added that the Deputy Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter is heading up a defence trade initiative with India, which the US believes is making some good progress and will, hopefully, lead to even a greater pace of additional defence trade with India.<br /><br />Last year, Shapiro had led the US delegation for the first ever political-military dialogue with India in six years.<br /><br />"It was significant because we were able to help our Indian counterparts work through the challenges of inter agency cooperation on national security issues," said Shapiro.<br />"Indian officials' have remarked that this dialogue is especially helpful in helping coordinate between the various inter-agency partners in India," he added.<br /><br />Responding to question on news reports that India might reopen its multi-billion dollar fighter jet deal, he said the American companies would have to consider if they want to participate in it.<br /><br />"I wouldn't say we were kicked out (of the fighter jet deal). I would say there was a selection process where they made a determination to down select to the two and eventually to select the Rafale," he said.<br /><br />"I have been reading in the Indian press various rumors about that transaction. We have no official communication from the Indian government and obviously if there was a reopening, US companies would have to consider whether they want to participate," Shapiro added.</p>