The Biden administration has approved the sale of significant defense equipment to India, just weeks before the completion of its four-year term.
Washington: On Monday, the Biden Administration informed Congress of its decision to approve the sale of MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter Equipment and related systems to India, with an estimated cost of $1.17 billion.
The proposed sale is aimed at enhancing India’s ability to counter current and future threats by boosting its anti-submarine warfare capabilities, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s notification to Congress.
This approval of a major defense deal with India comes just weeks before the end of the Biden administration’s four-year term. President-elect Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2025.
The notification also includes India’s request for 30 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS-JTRS), along with advanced data transfer systems, external fuel tanks, AN/AAS 44C(V) forward-looking infrared (FLIR) systems, operator machine interface assistants, spare containers, facilities study, design, construction and support, as well as munitions and integration and test support.
The principal contractor for this sale will be Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems.
The implementation of the sale will involve the temporary deployment of up to 20 U.S. government representatives or up to 25 contractor personnel to India for technical support and management oversight of the program.
