India test-fired a surface-to-air missile Monday as a U.S. defense team started talks in New Delhi on an arms deal that could include the Patriot anti-missile defense system.
The U.S. team, from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, met with officials from India's defense and foreign ministry. They possible arms deal is described as in its very early stages. Earlier Monday, India test fired its Akash missile, which has a range of 25 kilometers and can carry conventional warheads. The Akash is one of the five missiles under various stages of development in India.
Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan have an agreement to inform each other before any missile test.