China is far ahead of India in nuclear technology and missile production.
But the acquisition is not likely to expand Hughes's missile production; the goal is to keep it from shrinking.
Such measures, this official said, might involve exchanges of data on strategic forces and the monitoring of missile production.
It was an odd display for Americans who were negotiating a cessation of missile production and research.
McDonnell Douglas was invited to qualify as a second source for missile production.
Only if some important flaw in the production process were discovered would there be a long delay in missile production, he said.
However, the company is now focused on air-to-air missile production and some aircraft sub-components.
But to hold them he would need approval of the ayatollahs, who run the police, armed forces and missile production.
The plan drops a provision that inspectors be based outside missile production and assembly sites to count the missiles that leave the factory.
Antonov and I hammered out an agreement to halt all missile production and start up a dismantling program.