Congress Notified Of Potential Apache Block III Sale To India

News

AWIN First Dec 28 , 2010

Neelam Mathews

NEW DELHI

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale of 22 AH-64D Block III Apache helicopters to India, along with related equipment and training. The complete package would be worth approximately $1.4 billion. The Indian government had requested proposals from several foreign suppliers, including Boeing, for 22 attack helicopters. The Indian Air Force has completed field trials for the Apaches to replace its Mi-26s. However, a final downselect has yet to be made; DSCA says it notified Congress of the potential sale “so that, in the event that the Boeing-U.S. Army proposal is selected, the United States might move as quickly as possible to implement the sale.” If Boeing wins the competition, India will request a direct commercial sale of 50 T700-GE-701D engines; 12 AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars; 12 AN/APR-48A Radar Frequency Interferometers; 812 AGM-114L-3 Hellfire Longbow missiles; 542 AGM-114R-3 Hellfire II missiles; 245 Stinger Block I-92H missiles and simulators; global positioning system/inertial navigation systems; communication equipment; spare and repair parts; tools and test equipment. “The Apache Longbow is the only available combat helicopter with a spectrum of capabilities for virtually any mission requirement,” said Vivek Lall, head of Boeing Defense, Space and Security in India, earlier this year. “We believe it is uniquely suited to meet the commander’s needs, including reconnaissance, security, peacekeeping operations, and lethal attack.” Apart from Boeing, contractors involved in the sale would be Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Longbow Limited Liability Corp. and Raytheon. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with the potential sale, DSCA says.