[sukhoi-30mki]

Well I don't think that there is the level of mutual trust between the US & India for Delhi to purchase these high-end weapons.Id think India should wait a while & purchase P-3 Orions,sub rescue vessels etc before even thinking of the Patriots.India already uses the Russian S-300 system(widely regarded as analogous to the Patriots) to defend Delhi,Mumbai & the Bhabha atomic research centre in Trombay.The idea was to hook up the S-300(which would provide lower tier defence) with the Israeli Arrow(which would provide the high level interception capability).I think the journalist is mistaken in comparing the Arrow & PAC-3 as both have pretty different specs.

[spetznaz]

I agree completely. The Indians acquiring the Patriot when the already have the S-3000 is akin to a fat kid purchasing a 12-pack of Pepsi-Cola when he already has a 12-pack of Coke next to him. Unnecessary. Now, the purchase that would be of greater necessity would be acquiring the Israeli Arrow system, since THAT would complement the S-3000 (and Patriot) perfectly by hitting oncoming missiles before they came within Patriot/S-3000 range.

As for US assistance what would be nice would be to stop arming the Pakistanis. The P-3C Orions, the anti-air radars and the tech improvements going the way of the Pakistanis are obviously going to be turned against India (by the Paks).