M A I N   N E W S

India looking for defence cooperation with US
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 30
Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran today said India was currently exploring contours of cooperation with the United States that include technology transfers, co-production, joint development and collaborative research in the field of defence.

Mr Saran welcomed the first meeting of the Indo-US Defence Procurement and Production Group and said efforts were under way in India to foster growth of private sector in defence.

Addressing the opening session of the Fourth India-US High Technology Cooperation Group Meeting, Mr Saran said: “Partnerships and investments encouraged by our offset policy may be expected to contribute to that trend.”

UN Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security David McCormick said concerted efforts had been made to intensify dialogue with Indian defence acquisition community.

Brahmos test-fired

Balasore, November 30
The supersonic cruise missile Brahmos was flight-tested today from the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from here.

The test firing of the missile took place at 11.02 IST.

“The flight trial has met the mission objectives”, a defence source said.

Today’s version of the Brahmos had been designed for Army use, the sources said. The missile has a striking range of 290 km and weighs about three tonnes. It is about eight metre long and can carry a conventional warhead weighing 200 to 300 kg.— PTI