Wednesday, April 20 2005 14:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The United States has conveyed its readiness to cooperate with India on sale, production and development of defence equipment, including areas of advanced technologies, Rajya Sabha was informed today (Apr 20, 2005).

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee that in a written reply that the US has responded to the Request For Information (RFI) for medium (below 20 tonnes) Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) and cleared the US manufacturers of F-16 and F-18 aircraft for the Request for Proposal.

The United States has also offered an energy dialogue, which could include cooperation on nuclear energy for civilian use, he said.

Replying to another question, Mukherjee said that India's Chief of Naval Staff, during his visit to the US in March, 2005 as part of measures to strengthen bilateral defence ties, obtained an update on availability and condition of PC-3 Orion aircraft, feasibility of acquiring some aircraft, and other information concerning service life and life-cycle support for the aircraft.

On Helicopters, the Defence Minister said that steps have been initiated to replace the existing Cheetah/Chetak fleet, as they were of 1960s vintage and hence not suitably equipped for all weather and night operations in high altitude areas.

On demining, the Defence Minister said that the entire Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus route and areas on both sides of the road have been demined, he added that parapet walls and crash barriers have also been constructed to ensure safety of the vehicles on the route.