The two -day visit by US defence secretary Robert Gates to India reaffirms the "strong political support in the US" for the Indo-US "strategic partnership," according to the Indian government. In a statement issued soon after Gates began his visit on Tuesday, the Indian government stated that his visit comes in the last of the eight-year Bush presidency that witnessed unprecedented acceleration in the India-US engagement and qualitative transformation in the relationship, in particular in defence.This is the first visit of Mr Gates to India since he assumed office in December 2006.The Indian government said that India and the US have a "strong" framework of defence cooperation established by the 2005 Defence Framework Agreement and a "comprehensive" institutional framework of exchanges.Gates is expected to meet India's external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, defence minister A.K. Antony, national security adviser M.K. Narayanan and the leader of the opposition L.K. Advani."I am impressed by the way in which Indo-US defence ties have grown since the signing of the 2005 Defence Framework Agreement between India and the US," Gates said soon after he landed in New Delhi. He also spoke about strengthening the "military-to-military" relationship between the armed forces of the two countries.The 2005 Defence Framework Agreement sets the "framework for US-India defence relations for the next 10 years and visualised an enhanced level of cooperation covering military-to-military relations as well as a defence industrial and technological relationship."The defence secretary's visit comes as the United States and American companies are eyeing the huge armament procurements that the Indian government intends to make for the armed forces.These include 126 multi-role combat aircraft worth between 10-12 billion dollars and 317 helicopters for the Indian Army and Air Force. For the 126-aircraft deal, American companies Lockheed Martin (manufacturers of the F-16) and Boeing (manufacturers of the F-18) are in the race. As far as the procurement of helicopters is concerned, Bell Helicopters is one of the main bidders.The Cabinet Committee on Security has already approved the acquisition of six C-130J Hercules transport aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin. India is also considering buying eight P-3 maritime naval reconnaissance aircraft that is manufactured by Boeing. Last year, India had acquired the American naval landing platform dock USS Trenton at a cost of about 48 million dollars.This was later renamed the INS Jalashwa. The Jalashwa has a flight deck for helicopter operations and can carry over 1,000 troops along with vehicles, tanks artillery, ammunition and tracked landing vehicles. It was acquired to provide the Indian Navy with "enhanced amphibious capability." India and the United States have conducted 27 military exercises with each other in the past five years.
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