US makes sales pitch at Defexpo

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New Delhi: The US is making its boldest sales pitch to emerge as the dominant arms supplier to India as the international arms bazaar has descended upon New Delhi for India's largest defence exhibition, Defexpo 2006.

The US is the biggest participant in the expo, which opens in Delhi on Tuesday.

This bi-ennial event has been defined for the first time by the dominant presence of the Americans. India's traditional arms supplier Russia is only the fourth largest exhibitor.

The joke at the expo is that you cannot hurl a stone at Defexpo without hitting an American.

This is a land and naval systems' exhibition, but that has not deterred American aviation majors from saturating the event

It's a blunt declaration of intent to extend the US footprint to Delhi, which makes defence purchases worth a cool Rs 62,000 crore annually.

Says Robert Trice, Senior Vice-President of Lockheed Martin: "One of the reasons we're here is to engage with the Government of India to see where they are."

Traditional arms supplier Russia have been pushed down to fourth place among the largest exhibitors. But business here for the US is still dogged by uncertainties.

A single event like the Iran vote could jeopardise their prospects. The door is still only half-open.

Explains Robert: "Governmental relationship in the national security arena has an impact on our ability to do business.There will be ups and downs."

While the governments clear suspicions, the American arms dealers are getting used to the ways of doing business in New Delhi.

"You survive on rumours. You live on rumours, waiting for official word to come out of the government," adds Royce Caplinger, also of Lockheed Martin.

There's a realisation that wresting a share in the shadowy arms bazaar here is like walking on a bed of eggshells.

The Americans have stepped into unfamiliar territory with characteristic audaciousness. But as they stoop to conquer an uncertain market, the ground beneath their feet is slippery.