WASHINGTON Ñ The United States has asked Israel to delay the signing of the sale of its Phalcon airborne early-warning system to India.

U.S. officials said the Bush administration has relayed messages to India and Israel that Washington would not block the sale. But the messages also urged that the signing of the Phalcon contract be delayed amid current tension in South Asia.

India is considering the purchase of three Phalcon systems in a deal that could amount to nearly $1 billion. New Dehli has stressed that it would use the Phalcon system to monitor air traffic along the border with Pakistan. Both countries have moved troops to the tense border region near Kashmir.

Officials said the Phalcon issue was high on the agenda during an Israeli-U.S. strategic review that began on Wednesday. The U.S. delegation was led by Undersecretary of State John Bolton. Bolton focuses on nonproliferation issues.

"We are discussing with the government of Israel consulting further with them about the transfers, including the [Phalcon] systems capabilities and the timing," State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker said. "We do support the transfer of the Phalcon to India and we will continue to have the consultations with Israel on the capabilities and timing related to that."

The Phalcon issue is also expected to be discussed during the current visit of Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes to Washington. Fernandes will meet U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"As far as I know we are getting the systems," Fernandes said. Officials said that in December the administration relayed its approval of the Phalcon sale to India. But Washington said it first wanted to discuss the Phalcon configuration and other issues.

In July 2000, Israel, under U.S. pressure, suspended the sale of the Phalcon to China. China has now demanded more than $1 billion in compensation.

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