WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pentagon has issued a federal notification for a proposed $52.8 million foreign military sale to India involving a new tranche of anti-submarine sonobuoys, a move U.S. officials say will strengthen operational cooperation and further reinforce the strategic partnership between the two countries.
According to the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, India has requested to purchase U.S.-made sonobuoys — air-launched devices used to detect underwater activity — along with manuals, technical assistance, support services and operational sustainment. The package, fully funded by India, also includes assistance from U.S. government and contractor teams.
The official notification stated that the proposed sale “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the U.S. by helping to strengthen the U.S.–India strategic relationship and improving the security of a major defence 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 sonobuoys are intended to expand India’s ability to conduct anti-submarine missions and monitor underwater threats. “The proposed sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing its capacity to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations from its MH-60R helicopters. India will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” the notification said.
U.S. officials also said the transfer would not affect regional stability. “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” the Pentagon noted.
The principal contractors will be Sparton Corporation of De Leon Springs, Florida, and Undersea Sensor Systems Inc. of Columbia City, Indiana, or a combination of both. The package includes no offset commitments and requires no additional U.S. government or contractor personnel to be stationed in India. “There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale,” the notice stated.
An accompanying annex described sonobuoys as “air-launched, expendable, electro-mechanical sensors designed to relay underwater sounds to remote processors,” calling them an effective and affordable capability for airborne anti-submarine warfare.
The notification added that New Delhi meets U.S. standards for safeguarding sensitive technology. “A determination has been made that India can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government,” it said, adding that the sale aligns with U.S. foreign-policy and national-security objectives.
India and the United States have expanded defense cooperation significantly over the past two decades, with a growing emphasis on maritime security and undersea surveillance amid China’s rising naval presence in the Indo-Pacific. India’s MH-60R fleet, for which the sonobuoys are intended, plays a central role in its ongoing modernization efforts.
Washington’s designation of India as a “Major Defence Partner” has enabled faster technology transfers and deeper joint development. The latest sonobuoy package fits squarely within that framework, strengthening shared interests in securing vital sea lanes and maintaining regional stability. (Source: IANS)
