The dialogue between India and the United States on the National Missile Defence system holds the key to the supply of some American weapon systems, including Patriot missiles, to India

According to Indian officials in the know of the talks, hi-tech weaponry will be delivered to India 'without much hiccup' if the cooperation on the NMD system gathers momentum.

They also said talks on the system are progressing 'smoothly', though much 'area' needs to be covered. The Indian side, sources said, has been presenting its perception of the system to the Americans.

India looks at the NMD concept as a possible way to provide protection to its critical sites storing nuclear weapons and missiles against nuclear and conventional attacks.

Since India is committed to no-first-use of nuclear weapons, it is logical to have a comprehensive protection system for its assets.

India has already been invited by the US to a Ballistic Missile Defence Cooperation meeting and regular contacts are in place, officials said. Besides, the US has also invited India to send its representatives to witness tests related to the NMD system at the White Sands Missile Range.

A senior Indian official told rediff.com the biggest hurdle is the political trouble that lies ahead if the Indo-US cooperation on the NMD system goes 'too fast, too well'. The scepticism among a vast majority of Indian thinkers and political leaders 'may not go away so easily', he added.

"Politically it doesn't look (like) time for the cooperation to boom," he said.

Though there are major roadblocks in India's attempt to acquire American military hardware, the official said that some of them 'would be off'.

India recently inked the contract for ANTPQ-37 weapon locating radar. The first of the radar is expected this summer, officials said. A team of Indian Army officers is also presently undergoing training in California on operating the radar system.

India is also engaged in negotiations with the US on purchase of the P3C Orion long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The P3C Orion, which Pakistan already has, is probably the most sophisticated anti-submarine and maritime patrol aircraft in the world. Its Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar System (ISARS) provides a picture-like view of targets several kilometres away.

Defence sources said the American side is expected to present the configuration and price combinations of the P3C Orion in the next couple of months.

India is also looking at some NBC (Nuclear-Biological-Chemical) warfare protective systems from America. Besides, India has also received the much delayed spares for Sea King helicopters.