The United States has authorized a potential $93 million arms sales agreement that would "strengthen homeland defense and deter regional threats," giving India a significant defensive boost.
The deal includes 216 M982A1 Excalibur tactical bullets for $47.1 million and the Javelin Missile System and associated equipment for an estimated $45.7 million.
"At an estimated cost of $45.7 million, the State Department has decided to approve a potential foreign military sale of the Javelin Missile System and accompanying equipment to India.
According to a report published by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the agency provided Congress with the necessary certification.
"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defense partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions," the report stated.
To improve its air defense capabilities, the Army and UK based Thales struck an agreement earlier this year to purchase the Light Weight Modular Missile (LMM) system.
High altitude regions are among the operational zones where the lightweight, portable LMM missile system can be utilised. It delivers precise blows with minimal collateral damage by using a laser beam riding guidance technique.
The missile can target airplanes, helicopters, UAVs, and UCAVs even those with minimal infrared signatures at range of more than 6 km and in any weather conditions thanks to its triple effect warhead and proximity fuse.
