STEVE INSKEEP, host:
Admiral Keating's Pacific Command monitors nations as far away as India. It's the world's largest democracy, and it also has one of the world's fastest growing economies. And when you call some company and get a call center in India, it's worth noting that India is using some of its new wealth to buy weapons.
India, like China, is pouring resources into modernizing its army. And the United States is eager to reap some of the profits. That's why American Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in the capital, New Delhi, today. He's making a sales pitch for U.S. defense companies, who are up against tough competition from France and Russia.
India plans to buy 126 fighter jets, which could cost as much as $10 billion. That makes this one of the most lucrative arms deals anywhere in the world today. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
