Approval and Cost
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has authorized a potential foreign military sale of anti-submarine warfare sonobuoys and related equipment to India, with an estimated value of $52.8 million. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of this proposed sale.
Details of the Sale
The sale includes AN/SSQ-53G and AN/SSQ-62F High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-36 sonobuoys, technical documentation, and support services. The DSCA, part of the US Department of Defence, highlighted that the sale aims to bolster the US-India strategic relationship and enhance India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
Strategic Impact
This sale is intended to support US foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening the security of India, a key defense partner in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions. The equipment will enhance India’s ability to conduct anti-submarine operations from its MH-60R helicopters and will not disrupt the regional military balance.
Contractors and Logistics
The principal contractors for the sale will be Sparton Corporation and Undersea Sensor Systems Inc. (USSI), or a combination of both. There are no known offset agreements associated with this sale. The DSCA noted that India will be capable of integrating this equipment into its armed forces without issues.