Elodie Collins
The Department of State has cleared India’s request to purchase anti-submarine warfare sonobuoys and related equipment for $52.8 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Friday that Sparton and Undersea Sensor Systems Inc. will serve as principal contractors.
The proposed foreign military sale is not expected to impact U.S. defense readiness or alter the basic military balance in South Asia. India is an ally of the United States and the South Asian nation’s purchase of sonobuoys is expected to strengthen Washington’s strategic relationship with New Delhi.
Sparton, based in De Leon Springs, Florida, designs, develops, tests and manufactures complex maritime electronic systems. Meanwhile, USSI is an advanced military and government electronics company from Columbia City, Indiana.
The sonobuoys will be deployed to enhance the Indian military’s capability to detect current and future threats. The technology will be deployed on New Delhi’s fleet of MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopters.
The possible FMS comes at the heels of the signing of a bilateral, non-binding security of supply arrangement between the Department of Defense and the Ministry of Defence of the Government of India. Under the SOSA, the nations will get reciprocal priority support for defense and national security-related goods and services.
