US Keen to Buy Defense Equipment from India’s DRDO: Defense Minister

The United States has expressed interest in buying defense equipment from India’s Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO), Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during a press briefing on the eve of Aero India 2019 Airshow.

Details of the list of items considered by the US are being discussed, Sitharaman added.

"Indonesia, UAE and Vietnam have also shown interest in missile systems like Brahmos and Akash. Different countries are asking for different DRDO equipment. But we can't disclose anything unless the deal has concluded," the minister added.

John Rood, Under Secretary of Defence for Policy revealed US' plan for a missile defence collaboration with India earlier this month.

"The Indians have substantial capabilities domestically of their own and they've done some development of missile defences. So the degree to which they're interested in acquiring or working collaboratively with us in the US remains to be seen,” Rood said.

"It's early to determine how far that will go,” he had added.

The US granted India the status of Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) in 2018. India is the third Asian country to get the status after Japan and South Korea. The status eases India's defence procurement from the US.