Thursday, February 10 2005 17:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: America's aerospace industry today (Feb 10, 2005) said that it is keen to outsource from Indian defence equipment manufacturers, taking advantage of the emerging strategic partnership between the two nations, besides eyeing the huge India's growing defence procurement needs for its products.

"We view the Indian defence sector not only as a market, but also 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 US Air Force and currently vice chairman of the Cohen Group, General Joseph Raltson told reporters in Bangalore.

Raltson and former US ambassador to India Thomas R Pickering are leading the USIBC executive defence mission to India, a delegation of 12 American defence and aerospace firms at the Aero India air show in Bangalore.

"We are interested in and actively pursuing both major platform tenders as well as sub-systems, component and other small countries," he said.

US's F-16 falcon fighter is bidding against rivals from Russia, Sweden and France to sell 126 multi-role supersonic fighters, which the Indian Air Force is acquiring to replace the ageing MiG fleet.

Pickering said the US industry welcomes and wishes to play an integral role in furthering the strategic relationships between the India and US Government".