WASHINGTON, April 6 : The US defence sales to India have skyrocketed end India has purchased more than $ 4 billion of US defence hardware over the last decade. This was stated by Robert O. Blake, US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs during testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia here on Tuesday.
" Our two militaries enjoy a robust series of exchanges, visits, and exercises that create critical linkages between personnel and further deepen habits of cooperation, he said.
Blake said the Indian government is also in the final stages of finalizing a $4.1 billion sale for ten C-17 Globemaster heavy-lift transport aircraft - a deal announced during the President Obama's recent visit. This deal will double U.S.-India defense trade and support more than 20,000 U.S. jobs.
Once all these aircrafts have been delivered, India will have the second largest C-17 fleet in the world, behind that of the United States, providing the Indian Air Force with a strategic airlift and humanitarian response capability unique in the region.
Blake said two American aircraft, the F/A 18 Super Hornet and F-16IN Viper, are among the contenders for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition, an $11 billion tender which he hoped will further enhance strategic, military, and economic ties between the U.S. and India. He said with India expected to spend more than $45 billion on military modernization over the next five years, the US hopes the merits of American technology will continue to outshine the competition.
The Assistant Secretary of State said the global strategic partnership between US and India will remain among their top foreign policy priorities.
He said South Asia which is one of the least regionally integrated regions in the world, can achieve progress through improved ties between India and Pakistan.
" Our two militaries enjoy a robust series of exchanges, visits, and exercises that create critical linkages between personnel and further deepen habits of cooperation, he said.
Blake said the Indian government is also in the final stages of finalizing a $4.1 billion sale for ten C-17 Globemaster heavy-lift transport aircraft - a deal announced during the President Obama's recent visit. This deal will double U.S.-India defense trade and support more than 20,000 U.S. jobs.
Once all these aircrafts have been delivered, India will have the second largest C-17 fleet in the world, behind that of the United States, providing the Indian Air Force with a strategic airlift and humanitarian response capability unique in the region.
Blake said two American aircraft, the F/A 18 Super Hornet and F-16IN Viper, are among the contenders for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition, an $11 billion tender which he hoped will further enhance strategic, military, and economic ties between the U.S. and India. He said with India expected to spend more than $45 billion on military modernization over the next five years, the US hopes the merits of American technology will continue to outshine the competition.
The Assistant Secretary of State said the global strategic partnership between US and India will remain among their top foreign policy priorities.
He said South Asia which is one of the least regionally integrated regions in the world, can achieve progress through improved ties between India and Pakistan.
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