WASHINGTON (IANS): As the US enhances its security partnership with India as part of Asia rebalance, American companies could see "billions of dollars" in additional weapons sales to New Delhi, according to a senior US defence official.
Noting that US military sales to India have grown from virtually zero in 2008 to more than $8 billion, Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, told reporters Thursday "we think there's going to be billions dollars more in the next couple of years."
This was so despite India's decision to choose French-built Rafale plane in preference to US made Lockheed and Boeing aircraft in a $10 billion competition for new fleet of advanced combat aircraft, he said.
"While that fighter competition loss was disappointing, we have made tremendous progress in the defence trade relationship," Shapiro said.
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