The defense chiefs of Japan and India agreed Monday to continue talks over potential exports of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's US-2 amphibious aircraft to the South Asian country.
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and his Indian counterpart, Manohar Parrikar, said in a joint press release after their meeting in Tokyo that "India and Japan have the potential" to make the area of defense equipment and technology a "key pillar of bilateral defense relations."
Since Tokyo eased its rules on exports of defense equipment and technology last April, Japan and India have accelerated talks over India's possible purchase of the US-2, which can be used in maritime rescue operations. It would be the first export by Japan of finished defense equipment.