India, US negotiating UAV co-development programme: Pentagon official

Often described as the Pentagon's chief weapons buyer, Lord said that US-India defence cooperation has made great strides in the last few years

The US and India are negotiating a co-development programme for the air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a top Pentagon official said Tuesday.

I would like to highlight a very exciting project we are currently negotiating -- air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV will be a co-development programme between the US Air Force Research Labs, the Indian Air Force, India's Defense Research and Development Organisation, and an Indian startup company, said Ellen M Lord, Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment.

Addressing the India Idea's Summit organised by the US-India Business Council, the top Pentagon official said that the US Air Force