US Approves Sale Of Integrated Air Defense Weapon System Worth USD 1.9 Billion To India

The United States (US) Department of State on Monday approved the possible sale of an Integrated Air Defense Weapon System (IADWS) for USD 1.9 billion to India, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. According to the notification given by State Department to the US Congress, New Delhi had requested the US to facilitate the sale of IADWS.

“India intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces, and to expand its existing air defense architecture to counter threats posed by air attack”, the State Department said.

The procurement of new Air Defense Weapon System, besides boosting India's military capability, will also enhance greater interoperability between New Delhi, Washington and other allies.

The request from the Indian side was made for the procurement of five AN/MPQ-64Fl Sentinel radar systems; one hundred eighteen AMRAAM AIM-120C-7/C-8 missiles; three AMRAAM Guidance Sections; four AMRAAM Control Sections; and one hundred thirty-four Stinger FIM-92L missiles, reports news agency PTI.

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It also incuded thirty-two M4A1 rifles; 40,32) M855 5.56mm cartridges; Fire Distribution Centers (FDC); Handheld Remote Terminals; Electrical Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Sensor Systems; AMRAAM Non-Developmental Item-Airborne Instrumentation Units (NDIAIU); Multi-spectral Targeting System-Model A (MTS-A); and Canister Launchers (CN); High Mobility Launchers (HML).

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The defence system will help India expand its existing air defense architecture to counter threats posed by air attack. 

Earlier in 2019, despite threats of US sanctions, India signed a deal for over USD 5 billion with Russia to purchase S-400 surface-to-air missile system.

The S-400 Triumf is a Russian anti-air system which can shoot down ballistic missiles at a range of 60km (37 miles). An S-400 unit is composed of several launchers, command and logistics vehicles. It can track as many as 300 airborne targets at a range of 600 km and can destroy up to 36 of them.

Russia has been asserting that all S-400 air defence missile systems will be delivered to India by 2025.

(With PTI inputs)