Indian, US officials meet; defence outcomes yet to be worked

Top Indian and US officials today held talks here to finalise military-related outcomes, especially Defence Trade and Technology Initiative, during the upcoming visit by US President Barack Obama.
Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L), held talks with senior defence and other officials, including Defence Secretary R K Mathur and Secretary for Defence Production G Mohan Kumar.
Kendall is the Pentagon's point person on India-related defence issues, in particular on the India-US Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).
His primary objective is to push for DTTI, which promotes collaboration in defence technology and enables co-production and co-development of critical defence systems.

Even as officials here remained tightlipped, sources say the US has offered India 17 hi-tech items of military hardware for co-production and co-development under DTTI.
Of the 17, India is understood to be interested in five, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and aircraft landing system for aircraft carriers.
Officials maintained that nothing has been finalised yet. Another round of talks would be held tomorrow.
Obama will land in India on January 25 and will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade.