The United States has cleared two potential Foreign Military Sales to India worth a combined $428.2 million, including follow-on support for AH-64E Apache helicopters and sustainment assistance for M777A2 ultra-light howitzers, the State Department said.
The proposed agreements were announced by the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs in separate congressional notifications issued on May 18.
The larger of the two deals pertains to long-term sustainment support for M777A2 ultra-light howitzers and is estimated to be worth $230 million.
“The US Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of India sustainment support for M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers,” the notification said.
According to the State Department, India has requested “long-term sustainment support for M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers”. The package includes “ancillary items; spares; repair and return; training; technical assistance; field service representative; depot capability; and other related elements of logistics and program support.”
The principal contractor for the howitzer support package will be BAE systems.
In a separate notification, the State Department approved a potential $198.2 million sale linked to Apache helicopters.
“The US Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of India for its purchase of Apache Helicopters follow-on support services and related equipment,” the statement said.
India has requested “AH-64E Apache sustainment support services; US Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; technical data and publications; personnel training; and other related elements of logistics and program support.”
Meanwhile, the principal contractors for the Apache-related package are Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Both notifications emphasised that the proposed sales would advance Washington’s broader strategic objective in the Indo-Pacific region.
“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 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 State Department said in similar language in both notifications.
Washington also said the proposed sales would “improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defence, and deter regional threats.”
The notification further added, “India will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
The State Department further noted that the proposed sales “will not alter the basic military balance in the region” and would have “no adverse impact on US defence readiness”.
The approvals come amid growing defence cooperation between India and the United States, as the two countries have steadily strengthened military ties over the past decade through arms deals, joint exercises, and technology-sharing initiatives.
