India has signed $15 billion worth defense deals with the US in a decade.
AB Wire
India signed an agreement with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing for the acquisition of four Poseidon-8I long range surveillance and antisubmarine warfare aircraft at a cost of over $1 billion on Wednesday.
Both the countries agreed on the deal during the U.S Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Frank Kendall’s visit to India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given his nod to the deal at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) earlier this month.
The agreement will strengthen the strategic ties between India and the US as both the countries have decided to go ahead with their collaboration in the defense sector.
With this agreement, the total value of defense deals inked by India and the US in a decade will reach $15 billion.
As per the deal, the first P-81aircraft is expected to be delivered to India in three years. Indian Navy already has eight P-81 aircraft which were inducted into the army in the 2013-15 period.
The P-81s currently being used by the Navy are equipped with weapons like Harpoon Block-II missiles, MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, rockets and depth charges. India has deployed these aircrafts in the Indian Ocean where the presence of Chinese submarines have increased in recent years.