India in no hurry to sign CISMOA with US

India has made it clear to the US that it is in no hurry to sign CISMOA, a defence pact which provides for installation of American communication systems on US-made aircraft with certain guarantees.

India has made it clear to the US that it is in no hurry to sign CISMOA, a defence pact which provides for installation of American communication systems on US-made aircraft with certain guarantees.

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The Indian view on signing of Communication Inter-operability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) was conveyed to the American side during the recent visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Washington, sources said here.

The US side was told that the issue is under consideration of Indian government and "we will see", they said.

The US has been pushing India to sign the CISMOA as it intends to enhance the inter-operability of the Indian and American forces.

It ensures secrecy of its C4ISR (command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) systems.

These aspects of strategic detail enable voice, data and visual communication between command headquarters and strike groups in war-front and are crucial for India if it wants to get into the network.

The agreement, the US argues, would be useful for India as it is acquiring American military systems like the P-8i long-range maritime surveillance aircraft and C-130J 'Super Hercules' planes.