The United States has approved a £3.2billion ($4billion) sale that will send drones and missiles to India to boost its mairtime security and surveillance.
The Pentagon is reportedly set to send 31 Sky Guardian drones, 170 Hellfire missiles, and 310 small-diameter bombs to India as well as other military supplies as part of an Indo-Pacific strategy.
The deal, which aims to limit China’s influence in the region, was first announced when Indian prime minister Narendra Modi made a visit to the White House last year.
The US State Department has notified Congress of the sale, although the decision will need to be confirmed by the House.
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A State Department spokesman said: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defense partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.”
The department added the move will “will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats by enabling unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in sea lanes of operation”.
It said India “has demonstrated a commitment to modernizing its military and will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
