U.S. Approves $428 Million in Defense Support Packages for India
Washington — The United States has approved two proposed defense support packages for India worth a combined $428.2 million, covering long-term sustainment for M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers and follow-on support for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency recently notified Congress of the proposed sales, which focus on support services and logistics rather than new major defense equipment.
The larger package, valued at $230 million, would provide long-term sustainment support for India’s M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers. It includes spare parts, repair and return services, training, technical assistance, field service representatives, depot capabilities and other logistics and program support.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defense partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions,” the Pentagon said.
The proposed sale “will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and deter regional threats,” it added.
BAE Systems, based in Cumbria, United Kingdom, is the principal contractor for the M777A2 support package. The Pentagon said the sale would not require additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to be assigned to India.
The second package, valued at $198.2 million, covers follow-on support for India’s AH-64E Apache helicopters.
The package includes sustainment services, U.S. government and contractor engineering support, technical and logistics assistance, technical data, publications and personnel training.
The Pentagon said the Apache package would support U.S. foreign policy goals, strengthen the security of a major defense partner and improve India’s ability to respond to current and future threats.
Boeing, based in Arlington, Virginia, and Lockheed Martin, based in Orlando, Florida, are the principal contractors for the Apache support package.
The Pentagon said the proposed sale would have “no adverse impact on US defence readiness.”
Neither package includes major defense equipment, and no offset agreements are known at this time. Both proposed sales would be funded through India’s national funds.
Defense ties between India and the United States have expanded significantly over the past two decades, with bilateral defense trade growing from nearly zero in 2008 to more than $20 billion. The two countries have also increased joint military exercises, defense technology cooperation and logistics arrangements. (Source: IANS)
