the global defence aviation industry at the moment and offers both bidders a much-needed opportunity in a major market , '' said James Hardy , Asia Pacific Editor at IHS Jane 's Defence Weekly said in a statement . Arms sales , as well as more frequent military exercises and exchanges , are seen as an important ways to cement ties between the two countries . The Defense Department downplayed any suggestion that arms sales and other contacts could backfire and that next-door Pakistan may feel new pressure both in its already-strained relationship with Washington and with its historical enemy , India . `` It 's important that none of us think about relationships in this region as a zero-sum game , '' said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Robert Scher at the Pentagon . `` We have valuable relationships with Pakistan and valuable relationships with India and these things can co-exist . '' Scher signaled that he hoped the relationship , and the arms sales would continue to grow . `` I think there is a great potential to do much more , '' Scher said in a briefing at the Pentagon . `` India sees the U.S. as
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Pentagon is portraying India as a major customer for U.S. military equipment , worth an estimated $ 6 billion in the past decade , even as U.S. companies are shut out of a multibillion dollar bid for fighter jets that India is starting this week . In the newest edition of a congressionally mandated report , the Defense Department signaled that it was hoping to interest India in its top-of-the-line and most expensive weapon , the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter , still being tested . Arms sales , as well as more frequent military exercises and exchanges , are seen as an important ways to cement ties between the two countries . But India does n't always buy American . Recently , India considered and then rejected a major purchase of U.S. F-16 and F-18 fighters , a expensive setback for U.S. arms sales and the U.S. aviation industry . That deal -- now between the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon -- is a reminder of the vast sums in play . `` With a potential contract price of US$ 9 billion to US$ 14 billion , this is the single biggest competition in