India, US close in on defense deals worth $8 billion

India may get up to a dozen Apache helicopters along with engines for Indian jets.


Reuters April 27, 2012

NEW DELHI: US companies are poised to sign defense deals totaling $8 billion with India, US Ambassador Nancy Powell said on Friday at her first public speech since arriving in New Delhi this month.

Powell did not specify which companies she was talking about or when the deals would be signed, but embassy officials said she was referring to negotiations that include about a dozen Apache helicopters along with engines for Indian jets.

"We are poised to sign an additional $8 billion in direct commercial and foreign military sales," Powell said. "As we share more common equipment, our bilateral defense ties will become stronger."

India is the world's largest arms importer and plans to spend close to about $100 billion over the next 10 years to upgrade its largely Soviet-era equipment.

US companies including Boeing Co, Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Co are some of the contractors looking to grab a share of India's planned military spending.

Industrial conglomerate Honeywell International Inc. is offering engines for the Indian Airforce's Jaguar fighter aircraft.

Powell said improving bilateral trade and investment was her main objective as ambassador, mentioning US concerns about tariff and non-tariff barriers and a new retroactive tax law as obstacles in the relationship.

 

COMMENTS (25)

laldo | 11 years ago | Reply

americans are lobbying india to buy armaments so that it can give more employment & jobs to the americans with a WIN WIN situation for President Obama coming elections. india & usa shud have joint ventures in defence deals rather than upgrading any of the soviet era aged military hardwares.

jerseybb | 11 years ago | Reply

So the two faced indians are defending their arms purchase ? while all the curse is for Pakistan

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