Defense Desk: Further strengthening the strategic ties between India and the US, the US State Department has approved the possible sale of support services and equipment for the Indian Army’s ‘Apache Attack Helicopter’ and ‘M777 Ultra-Light Howitzer’. The total estimated price of this entire defense package is US $ 428 million (about more than Rs 3,500 crore). Under this deal, $198.2 million will be spent for sustainment support of Apache helicopters and about $230 million will be spent for long-term support of M777A2 howitzers.
According to the US State Department, the prime contractors for the Apache support package will be Boeing and Lockheed Martin, while BAE Systems will serve as the prime contractor for the howitzers. Through this deal, India will get important services like repair, return, training, technical assistance, field service representative and logistics support. The US administration has stressed that this step will further strengthen India’s ability to deter regional threats while promoting political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.
It is noteworthy that recently the Indian Army had brilliantly demonstrated the firepower of the Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter during the live firing exercise ‘Brahmastra’ at the Pokhran firing range. In this exercise, Apache carried out precise attacks with the help of Hellfire missiles and rockets. This world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter is equipped with Longbow radar and night-vision sensor, which has the ability to destroy the enemy even in all weather conditions and darkness of night.
