WASHINGTON, March 3: The United States has offered to sell India advanced fighter aircraft as the next step in a rapidly expanding military relationship between the two countries.

Hours after President George Bush concluded a landmark nuclear agreement in New Delhi on Thursday, Pentagon issued a statement in Washington offering India greater military cooperation in areas like military trade and technology.

Cooperation on weapons development and technology “will serve key objectives of our strategic partnership by helping to build ties among our defence establishments and industries and to develop interoperability among our armed forces,” the Pentagon said in a statement on its Indian partnership.

“The United States is committed to providing state-of-the-art fighter aircraft in response to India’s requirements for a multi-role combat aircraft,” the Pentagon said.

“We have indicated our intention to offer both the F-16 and the F-18, both combat proven aircraft,” it said.

The Pentagon also pledged to work to make additional capabilities available to India, and said its proposal also addresses India’s interest in technology transfers and indigenous co-production.