US clears direct commercial sale of 6 AH-64E Apache helicopters to India

Defence Industry, Indian Army

WASHINGTON. The State Department of the United States has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to India of items in support of a proposed direct commercial sale of six AH-64E Apache helicopters for an estimated cost of $930 million, a press statement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale June 12.

The Government of India has requested to buy the following items in support of a proposed direct commercial sale of six AH-64E Apache helicopters: 14 T700-GE-701D engines; four AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars; four Radar Electronic Units (REU) Block III; four AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometers (M-RFI’s); 180 AGM-114L-3 Hellfire Longbow missiles; 90 AGM-114R-3 Hellfire II missiles; 200 Stinger Block I-92H missiles; seven Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensors (MTADS-PNVS); and 14 Embedded GPS Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI).

Also included are rockets, training and dummy missiles, 30mm cannons and ammunition, transponders, simulators, communication equipment, spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, support equipment, repair and return support, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, US Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistic and program support. The total estimated program cost is $930 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of an important partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in South Asia.

The proposed sale is in conjunction with and in support of a proposed direct commercial sale of six AH-64E Apache helicopters, and will strengthen India’s ability to defend its homeland and deter regional threats. This support for the AH-64E will provide an increase in India’s defensive capability to counter ground-armored threats and modernize its armed forces. India will have no difficulty absorbing the helicopters and support equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractors will be Lockheed Martin Corporation, Orlando, FL; General Electric Company, Cincinnati, OH; Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors, Owego, NY; Longbow Limited Liability Corporation, Orlando, FL; and Raytheon Company, Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require US Government or contractor representatives to travel to India for a period of one week at a time to conduct a detailed discussion of the various aspects of the hybrid program with Government of India representatives. Additional travel will be required for equipment de-processing/fielding, system checkout and new equipment training and Contractor Furnished Service Representatives (CFSR) for a period of 30 months.

There will be no adverse impact on US defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.