The United States has approved two separate technical support programmes for artillery guns and attack helicopters used by the Indian armed forces, with a combined cost of $428 million (approximately Rs 4,000 crore). The package includes $230 million for sustainment support for the Army's M777 ultra-light howitzers and $198.2 million for sustainment of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
M777 Howitzer Sustainment Support
The US has notified a $230 million 'long-term sustainment support' package for the M777 ultra-light howitzers. These howitzers were used for precision strikes against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May last year. According to a US notification, the Government of India requested support covering ancillary items, spares, repair and return, training, technical assistance, field service representative, depot capability, and other related logistics and programme support elements.
This sustainment programme follows India's recent replenishment of its stock of specialised artillery ammunition called 'Excalibur', which is fired from the M777. During Operation Sindoor, Excalibur rounds were used to target terrorist camps in Pakistan on May 7 last year. After the operation, India procured 216 Excalibur projectiles from the US under a $47.1 million deal. India sourced 145 M777 guns from the US almost a decade ago.
Apache Helicopter Sustainment Support
Separately, the Government of India requested to buy AH-64E Apache sustainment support services, including US Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, technical data and publications, personnel training, and other related elements of logistics and programme support. The estimated cost of this programme is $198.2 million. Both the Indian Air Force and the Army operate the Apache attack helicopter, with units deployed along the western and northern frontlines.
Strategic Importance
The US described the utility of both sales in sustaining India's artillery guns and helicopters. According to the US notification, these sales aid US national security objectives by strengthening the US-Indian strategic relationship and improving 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. The proposed sale will improve India's capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defence, and deter regional threats.
