India on Saturday said that it was looking forward to acquiring more sophisticated weaponry from the US as the two countries move on renewed mutual military cooperation. Stating that the renewal of defence cooperation was driven by common purpose and objective, defence minister George Fernandes said that there was an awareness on this in both the countries. “We are looking at acquiring more sophisticated weaponry from the US which other nations are not in a position to produce and deliver at short notice,” Fernandes said in an interview. He said that the armies and the air forces of the two countries were venturing onto joint exercises and it was an appreciation of security environment in our region and various other parts of the world that is making us to go into that direction. Stating that India and the US have had defence relations in the past also, Fernandes said that the two countries found common ground and common purpose for restoration of mutual cooperation in defence after the September 11 attacks in Washington and New York. The September 11 incidents made the US realise the real dangers -- what terrorism can do, he said. He said that the benefits will spill over to other areas, including economy, which will be good for people of both the countries.
Bureau Report