Partner in Arms

Smruti D

Promising to take the India-US defence partnership to another level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump signed two agreements worth USD 3 billion on February 25, for the purchase of additional Apache helicopters (these are for the Indian Army) and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the Indian Navy. Both the procurements will take place under Foreign Military Sale (FMS) between the governments of India and the US.

US-India signed two defence contracts during the visit

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is already operating 17 of the 22 AH-64 E Apaches contracted for earlier. Boeing is expected to deliver the remaining five of these to India by the end of March 2020. The additional six Apache helicopters for the Indian Army will be worth USD 980 million.

Earlier, addressing the audience of nearly one lakh at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad Trump had said, “As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the United States looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made: airplanes, missiles, rockets, ships. We make the best. And we’re dealing now with India. But this includes advanced air defence systems and armed and unarmed aerial vehicles. And I am pleased to announce that, tomorrow, our representatives will sign deals to sell over USD3 billion in the absolute finest, state-of-the-art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces. I believe that the United States should be India’s premier defence partner, and that’s the way it’s working out. Together, we will defend our sovereignty, security, and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region for our children and for many, many generations to come.”

Responding to the deal, President, Boeing India, Salil Gupte said, “We welcome India’s decision to acquire six AH-64 Apache helicopters and lifecycle services support for the Indian Army. The AH-64E Apache will be a force multiplier for the Indian Army, just as it is today for the IAF. We congratulate the US and Indian governments on this key milestone and welcome the positive momentum in the bilateral defence trade and industrial partnership.”

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