"We are willing to talk to India about missile defence. Missile defence is very expensive. So, it is not something that India will enter into lightly," visiting US assistant secretary of state for arms control, Stephen Rademaker, told reporters.

Rademaker lauded India for a recent legislation by parliament on export control of sensitive technologies, but added that the "end game" would be a set of regulations for implementing it.

Earlier this year, Washington offered to step up a strategic dialogue with New Delhi including military and high-tech cooperation as well as expanded economic and energy cooperation.

It expressed willingness to discuss the issue of defense transformation with India, including other systems such as command and control and early warning.

India was a Cold War ally of the Soviet Union and maintains close ties with Iran, which the United States accuses of developing nuclear weapons and supporting Middle Eastern extremist groups.

Traditionally, it has bought most of its military equipment from Russia, France and Britain, but recently has shown interest in the military hardware of US defence firms.

The United States and India signed a landmark agreement last January to share advanced technology, including in peaceful nuclear applications.

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