World Bulletin / News Desk

The United States Pentagon has reportedly offered India the chance to enter a joint venture to develop or manufacture 34 state-of-the-art weapon systems and technologies.

According to the Hindu Asia Times, the infra-red guided Javelin anti-tank missile, which has a range of nearly 5km, and the Scorpion mutation bomb, which has in-built sensors that allow command centres to accurately target enemy convoys, are among weapons listed in the proposal.

The offer comes as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to visit the US, and while India considers purchasing the Javelins, which have been tried and tested in Iraq and Afghanistan, in a deal worth $4 billion.

South Block officials were cited saying that Indian firm Bharat Dynamics Limited will be involved in the co-production of the Javelin, in addition to the proposed co-production of Textron-manufactured micro-observers or unattended ground sensors.

The ATK-made 120mm canon gun has also been offered for co-production, as proposed in a letter which has come to light amid meetings between US under secretary for acquisition and technologies Frank Kendall and a four-member Indian team led by defence production secretary G Mohan Kumar.

It is expected that Modi will renew the 10-year-old bilateral defence framework for five more years during his visit ahead of talks between US defence minister Chuck Hagel defence and his Inidan counterpart Arun Jaitley, scheduled for October 8.