The United States has approved the sale of Anti-Submarine Warfare Sonobuoys to India.
Washington, D.C., August 24: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has approved a potential foreign military sale to India, involving anti-submarine warfare Sonobuoys and related equipment, with an estimated value of USD 52.8 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense, has delivered the necessary certification to Congress, informing them of this potential sale.
India has requested to purchase AN/SSQ-53G High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-62F HAASW sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-36 sonobuoys, along with technical documentation, U.S. government and contractor engineering support, and additional logistical and program services. The total estimated cost of the sale is USD 52.8 million, according to the DSCA.
This sale is expected to advance U.S. foreign policy and national security goals by reinforcing the strategic relationship between the United States and India. It will also enhance the security of India, a key defense partner, contributing to political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.
The sale will improve India's ability to address current and future threats by boosting its anti-submarine warfare capabilities, particularly through operations conducted from its MH-60R helicopters. India is well-prepared to integrate this equipment into its military forces.
The DSCA emphasized that the sale will not disrupt the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractors for this sale are Sparton Corporation, based in De Leon Springs, FL, and Undersea Sensor Systems Inc. (USSI), located in Columbia City, IN, or a combination of both. The agency noted that there are no known offset agreements linked to this potential sale.