Hyderabad a microcosm of best practices in US-India defence ties: Official

US and Indian firms are already collaborating in the co-production of C-130 transport aircraft, F-16 fighter planes, and Apache helicopters at joint facilities in the city

The first-ever US-India Defence Ties Conference began in Hyderabad on Wednesday with the visiting deputy assistant secretary from the US Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Joel Starr hoping for an early conclusion of ongoing negotiations with the Indian government involving the sale of F-18 and F-21 fighter planes.

"Several milestones have been achieved in India-US defence ties in a short period time as we see the defence trade reaching $ 16 billion level in a matter of ten years. The US has designated India as a major defence partner in 2016 while three US ships had recently visited Vizag for