US decides to sell anti-submarine warfare sonobuoys worth $52.8 million to India, Pentagon notifies Congress

The Biden administration has made up our minds to sell High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys worth USD Fifty two.eight million to India. The step would amplify India’s capability to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations.

Sonobuoys are air-launched, expendable, electro-mechanical sensors designed to relay underwater sounds to faraway processors. These are effective and affordable antisubmarine warfare (ASW) have the ability to being utilized by airborne ASW warfighters.

“The proposed sale will toughen India’s capability to satisfy current and future threats by enhancing its capacity to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations from its MH-60R helicopters. India will don't have any difficulty absorbing this equipment into its defense force,” the Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in a notification to the Senate Foreign Members of the family Committee this week.

As per the Arms Export Keep watch over Act, Congress has 30 calendar days to envision the sale.

In keeping with the Congressional notification, India had requested to purchase AN/SSQ-53O High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys; AN/ SSQ-62F HAASW sonobuoys; and AN/SSQ-36 sonobuoys. The estimated total cost is USD Fifty two.eight million.

“This proposed sale will toughen the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to augment the United States-India strategic relationship and bettering the safety of a first-rate defence partner which remains a a necessity to have force for political stability, peace, and economic progress within the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions,” the notification said.

On August 23, Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State approved the foreign defense force sale to India of Anti-Submarine Warfare Sonobuoys and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD Fifty two.eight million.

(With PTI Inputs)