U.S Sets Aside $20 Mn For Strategic Tech Projects With India

At its core, the initiative is an effort to streamline the approval process for release of technology to India, Kendall said.

An example of this, he said, is the co-production and co-development of the Javelin missile.

"These suggestions for cooperative programmes are still available for consideration," the official said. "And, I believe, are under active consideration by the Indian government."

The initiative also looks to more broadly based research, he said.

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel and Kendall travelled to India in August and came back excited over the possibilities of the initiative with India.

"It was very clear to Secretary Hagel and to myself that a new wind was blowing in India -- the monsoon had changed direction and intensity," Kendall said.

"Everyone we met, at all levels, was highly interested in opportunities for cooperation. The desire we felt to inject new momentum into this relationship and into DTTI was echoed by everyone whom we met."

India and U.S agreed "to identify specific co-development and co-production opportunities," and to develop specific science and technology projects, Kendall said.

"I'm excited and encouraged about these developments, but I know there is a lot of work still to be done," the official said.

"Both India and the United States have bureaucracies that can be equal parts engines for change and impediments to progress. But both of us can move when the leadership and motivation exist to do so."

Kendall said both sides must keep pushing. "Good intentions must lead to tangible results, or the momentum we have built is going to fade," he said.

In that spirit, the U.S has set aside $20 million for strategic cooperative science and technology projects with India.

Kendall emphasized that the initiative is not just an attempt to sell U.S defence products to India.

It is, he said, one facet "to build a deeper, closer, and broader relationship with one of the most important countries on Earth."

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