US to sell Harpoon anti-ship missiles to India

Washington, Sept 10 (PTI) U.S. Wednesday announced sale
of two dozen Harpoon II anti-ship missiles to India in a deal
worth more than USD 170 million which was made public as
Defence Minister A K Antony began a high level visit to the
country.

Pentagon has notified Congress of a possible foreign
military sale to India of Harpoon Block II missiles, which
would arm squadrons of the maritime-role version of Jaguar
warplanes of the Indian Air Force.

Pentagon's Defence Security Cooperation Agency (D.S.C.A.)
has said that India has requested a possible sale of 20
AGM-84L Harpoon missiles, which are fired from fixed-wing
aircraft, and 4 ATM-84L Harpoon Block II Exercise missiles,
containers, training devices, spare and repair parts.

If the Harpoon deal goes through, it would be the fourth
major U.S. arms sales to India over the last three years.
Washington has already sold to Indian military, ANTPQ37
weapon-locating radars, six giant Hercules C-130J transport
aircraft and eight new maritime P-8 reconnaissance aircraft.

India has also asked for supply/technical support,
support equipment, personnel training and training equipment,
technical data and publications, US Government and contractor
engineering and logistics support services, the D.S.C.A. has
said.

"This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy
and national security of the United States by helping to
improve the security of an important partner and to strengthen
the US-India strategic relationship, which continues to be an
important force for political stability, peace and economic
progress in South Asia," the Pentagon said.

"India intends to use the Harpoon missiles to modernise
its Air Force Anti-Surface Warfare mission capabilities and
improve its naval operational flexibility.

"The missiles will assist the Indian Navy to develop and
enhance standardisation and operational ability with the
United States. India will have no difficulty absorbing these
missiles into its armed forces," the Pentagon added.

The Department of Defence has said that the proposed sale
of this equipment and support will not affect the basic
military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be the Boeing Company of St
Louis, Missouri and there are no known off set agreements
proposed in connection with this potential sale.

"Implementation of this proposed sale will not require
the assignment of any additional US Government or contractor
representatives to India permanently.

"There may be US Government or contractor personnel in
the country on a temporary basis in conjunction with program
technical and management oversight and support requirements,"
the Pentagon has said.

This would be the first sale of American missiles to
India. US defence majors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing,
Raytheon and others are also bidding for other lucrative
Indian contracts including an estimated USD 10 billion sale of
126 fighter jets, USD three billion sale of 246 light
helicopters.

Besides this, U.S. companies like General Electric and
Westinghouse would be bidding for sale of nuclear reactors to
India.