INDIAN EXPECTATIONS FOR THE PAC-2 BRIEFING

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 000708

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS IN NSSP
SUBJECT: INDIAN EXPECTATIONS FOR THE PAC-2 BRIEFING


Classified By: DCM Robert O. Blake, Jr., for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) The classified briefing on the Patriot PAC-2 missile
defense (MD) system, currently scheduled for February 22 or
23, has generated a great deal of interest within the Indian
government, with senior GOI officials hopeful that this will
be the beginning of a broader MD relationship with the US.
GOI officials who are expected to attend the briefing include
MEA A/S Meera Shankar, MOD J/S Gautam Mukhopadhaya, as well
as senior Army, Air Force, DRDO, and Acquisition reps. We
have also heard expressions of interest from the PMO --
although NSA Narayanan, unlike his predecessor Mani Dixit,
has not yet pronounced himself in favor of the US-India MD
relationship. As the GOI is only in the initial stages of
formulating its missile defense doctrine, government and
military representatives at the meeting may raise policy
questions about MD beyond the scope of the technical
capabilities of the PAC-2. Post welcomes the participation
of senior USG officials who might be able to address such
policy questions should they arise.


2. (C) This PAC-2 briefing comes in the context of an
underdeveloped military sales relationship that we are now
seeking seriously to energize. Getting a long sought-after
breakthrough military sale -- whether a Patriot or any other
major platform -- will be an uphill campaign. In a recent
interview in New Delhi's "National Review," Defense Minister
Mukherjee summarized some of India's complaints about
military procurements from the US, "We have problems buying
arms from you because your laws are very strict. At any
point you may have to clamp sanctions on us." In this
context, we can not afford to be ambivalent in the message we
send on the PAC-2 system, since any sign of US wavering will
be seized on by those who remain skeptical of US reliability.
Key in this regard will be the US message that the PAC-2
offer is a step toward PAC-3, which is what India ultimately
hopes to purchase.
MULFORD