State clears $930M Apache equipment, weapons sale to India

The State Department has approved a possible sale of Apache helicopter equipment and weapons to India.

The approved deal supports the direct commercial sale of six Apache AH-64E helicopters to India and includes 14 T700-GE-701D engines, four AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars, four Radar Electronic Units (REU) Block III and four AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometers, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced today.

The approved sale also includes 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, and 14 Embedded GPS Inertial Navigation Systems, according to DSCA.

The agency said the possible sale is worth as much as $930 million.

Last fall, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the U.S. military is working to strengthen ties with India and alluded to new efforts under the defense trade and technology initiative started by the Obama administration.

The Defense Department also recently decided to re-name its Asia-based geographic combatant command to "U.S. Indo-Pacific Command" to recognize the “increasing connectivity of the Indian and Pacific Oceans,” according to Mattis.