U.S to sell 3 billion in military equipment to India

[PaleoEuropean]

The U.S. will sign military deals worth more than $3 billion with India on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said at the start of a two-day state visit to the South Asian nation.

“We make the greatest weapons ever made. Airplanes. Missiles. Rockets. Ships. We make the best and we’re dealing now with India. But this includes advanced air-defense systems and armed and unarmed aerial vehicles,” Trump told a cheering crowd at the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on Monday as he shared the stage with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Last week, India’s cabinet cleared $2.6 billion purchase from Lockheed Martin Corp. of 24 multi-role MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters to Indian navy.

The State Department has also approved a potential sale to India of $1.8 billion in arms, including air-defense radars and missiles, rifles and other equipment, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced.

Trump’s India Trip to Produce Huge Crowds, Little Trade Progress

Trump also reiterated his pledge that the U.S. would make a significant trade deal with India.

“We are in the early stages of discussion for an incredible trade agreement to reduce barriers of investment between the United States and India,” he said. “And I am optimistic that, working together, the prime minister and I can reach a fantastic deal that’s good and even great for both of our countries.”

Trump gave no time line for a deal and speaking to reporters later he said he was in “no rush.”

Officials have tried to hammer out a modest trade deal opening up India to U.S. agricultural products and medical devices in return for the restoration of preferential export status that Trump stripped from India in 2019.

“There has been comparatively less activity during President Trump’s first term so it’s important for the two sides to get a win in the arms sales arena, particularly since the trade deal that’s been under negotiations for over a year appears to be off the table for now,” Jeff M. Smith, research fellow at the Washington D.C.-based Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center.

[tipirneni]

US wants to compete with Russia in sending more military & high-tech stuff. Looks like Apache helicopter were success but not other things like nuclear reactors, F16 series etc...

[luc2112]

US wants to compete with Russia in sending more military & high-tech stuff. Looks like Apache helicopter were success but not other things like nuclear reactors, F16 series etc...

F16 it is a good jet the problem is the USA is technology transfer.

[tipirneni]

F16 it is a good jet the problem is the USA is not technology transfer.

No, the US Defense contractor Lockheed Martin were willing to make the Jets in India but there was no interest since there no technology sharing for future generation jets. The F35s were too pricey for the big Air force to buy and maintain.

[luc2112]

No, the US Defense contractor Lockheed Martin were willing to make the Jets in India but there was no interest since there no technology sharing for future generation jets. The F35s were too pricey for the big Air force to buy and maintain.

What was the other plane chosen by India?

[PaleoEuropean]

US wants to compete with Russia in sending more military & high-tech stuff. Looks like Apache helicopter were success but not other things like nuclear reactors, F16 series etc...

The F-35 isn't designed so much as a fighter though, the F-16 out performs in many regards, we still have plenty of F-16's and they aren't going anywhere for a long time.

[Óttar]

Won't do much when the US hooks up Porkistan with military equipment and night-vision technology in the name of anti-terrorism when Porkistan IS a terrorist state.

[Kamal900]

Won't do much when the US hooks up Porkistan with military equipment and night-vision technology in the name of anti-terrorism when Porkistan IS a terrorist state.

War is business after all. I mean, the American military industrial complex need to sell it's wares to other peoples and countries including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. I mean, don't except any sort of altruism from the US government.

[luc2112]

The F-35 isn't designed so much as a fighter though, the F-16 out performs in many regards, we still have plenty of F-16's and they aren't going anywhere for a long time.

The advantage of the F-16 is its maintenance and spare parts. The performance is adequate considering that it is a 4, 4.5 generation aircraft.

[luc2112]

Won't do much when the US hooks up Porkistan with military equipment and night-vision technology in the name of anti-terrorism when Porkistan IS a terrorist state.

Has been around for a long time. Russian tanks from Syria in the yom kippur war had night vision in 1973.