US approves sale of Javelin missiles, Excalibur munition to India worth over $92 million
Washington has approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles and Excalibur guided artillery munitions to India, the United States’ Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Wednesday.
The sale is worth $92.8 million, or about Rs 822 crore, in all.
The US Department of Defense said that the sale would improve “the security of a major defence partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions”.
It also noted that India would have “no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces”.
According to the department, the first package, valued at $45.7 million, or about Rs 405 crore, includes units of the Javelin system, one fly-to-buy missile and 25 Lightweight Command Launch Units, NDTV reported.
It also covers non-major defence equipment such as basic skills trainers, missile simulation rounds, battery coolant units, operator manuals, technical data, refurbishment services and other related elements of logistics and programme support.
The second package approves the possible sale of up to 216 Excalibur tactical projectiles and associated equipment for an estimated $47.1 million, or around Rs 417 crore.
India already uses Excalibur precision-guided artillery ammunition in its M777 howitzer guns, Reuters reported.
This marks New Delhi’s first purchase of US defence equipment under Washington’s foreign military sales programme since bilateral ties deteriorated in August after President Donald Trump doubled...
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