Washington/New Delhi: In a significant boost to India-US defence cooperation, the United States has approved two proposed defence support packages for India worth a combined $428.2 million. The packages will provide long-term sustainment support for India’s M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers and AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, according to notifications issued by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
The proposed sales, recently notified to the US Congress, focus on logistics, maintenance, training, and technical support rather than the supply of new major defence equipment.
The larger package, valued at $230 million, is intended to provide long-term sustainment support for India’s fleet of M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers. The package includes spare parts, repair and return services, technical assistance, training, field service representatives, depot-level maintenance capabilities, and related logistics support.
In its policy justification, the Pentagon said the proposed sale would strengthen the strategic partnership between the United States and India while enhancing the security of a major defence partner 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 improve the security of a major defense partner,” the Pentagon stated.
The Pentagon further noted that the support package would improve India’s ability to address current and future security challenges, strengthen homeland defence, and deter regional threats.
The principal contractor for the M777A2 support package is BAE Systems, headquartered in Cumbria, United Kingdom. The US government clarified that implementation of the package would not require the deployment of additional US government personnel or contractor representatives to India.
In a separate notification, the United States approved a $198.2 million follow-on support package for India’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The package includes engineering support, logistics services, technical data, publications, personnel training, and other programme support services required for sustaining Apache operations.
The principal contractors for the Apache support package are Boeing and Lockheed Martin, two of America’s leading defence manufacturers.
According to the Pentagon, the proposed sales will have no adverse impact on US defence readiness and are expected to enhance India’s defence preparedness and operational capabilities.
The notifications also emphasised that neither package involves Major Defence Equipment (MDE), and no offset agreements are currently associated with the proposed sales. Both programmes will be funded through India’s national resources.
India and the United States have significantly expanded defence ties over the past two decades. Bilateral defence trade has grown from negligible levels in 2008 to over $20 billion, while cooperation has deepened through joint military exercises, defence technology initiatives, and logistics agreements.
The latest approvals are seen as another step toward strengthening the strategic defence partnership between the two countries amid evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
