Washington: Leading USdefence companies are mounting a mission to India to consolidate what they call"the momentum of the recent US-India strategic partnership" and toshowcase American excellence in technology superiority, reliability andlong-term partnership.

Led by William S. Cohen, former US secretary of defence andCEO of The Cohen Group, and Thomas R. Pickering, a former US ambassador toIndia now representing The Boeing Company, the executive Defence Mission willparticipate in India's largest ever air show at Bangalore from Feb 7-11.

"USindustry looks forward to working closely with India'sdefence and aerospace establishments to advance its critical defencesystems," said Ron Somers, president of US-India Business Council (USIBC),an advocacy group representing over 230 of the largest US companies investing in India.

Members of the USIBC delegation look forward to engagingwith industry and business leaders, it said. High-level meetings are alsoscheduled with the Indian government, including the Indian ministry of defence.

Boeing will showcase the F/A-18f, C-17 transport aircraft,and Chinook heavy-lift chopper, while Lockheed Martin will showcase the F-16,C-130j, and P-3c at the Feb 4-11 Aero India 2007. Many other US companieswill be displaying their equipment at the show.

Other companies on the mission include Honeywell, GeneralElectric, Raytheon, The Cohen Group, United Technologies Corporation/Pratt& Whitney, Bell Helicopter Textron, Emergent Bio-Solutions, L-3Communications, and The Fremont Group.

"Aero India 2007 provides an excellent platform for USaerospace companies to build alliances, find partners, and share cutting-edgetechnology with India,"USIBC said.

"Senior officials from the US department of defencewill also attend, clearly demonstrating US commitment to India as a long-termpartner," it said, noting that it's the first time in history that the USgovernment has approved such a large fleet of military aircraft for static andflying display in a major air show.

USIBC's seventh defence mission to India comes onthe heels of unprecedented US-India strategic defence cooperation, as embodiedin the successful passage of the civilian nuclear legislation.

"Hosted by the department of defence production,ministry of defence, in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers ofCommerce and Industry (FICCI) and Farnborough International Ltd, the sixthbiennial Aero India 2007 in Bangalore,India's hub foraerospace and high technology, promises to be a truly spectacular aviationgathering," USIBC said.