A ‘Namaste Trump’ Defense Deal Between India-US Gushing Billion Dollars
The welcoming ‘Namaste Trump’ of the US president Donald Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump was extravagant. Keeping the focus of exploring ‘New India’ Trump pinpointed on the trade deals it expects from India noting PM Modi as a great negotiator.
On the eve, reports states that India will buy multiple military-grade helicopters from the United States. The complete deal shall draw $3 billion, President Trump announced during his state visit.
He said the U.S. approved India’s purchase of several military helicopters as part of a larger defense deal between the two democracies.
“The United States looks forward to providing India with the best and most-feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made — airplanes, missiles, rockets, ships. We make the best, and we are dealing now with India,” the president said.
Indian defence contracts bagged by the US just since 2007 to to well past the $20 billion mark. The $2.6 billion deal for 24 MH-60 `Romeo’ multi-mission helicopters for the Navy and the $930 million one for six AH-64 Apache attack choppers for the Army will be cleared by Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
Modi’s cabinet committee on security is expected to clear the purchase of 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the Indian navy in the next two weeks, a defense official and an industry source briefed on the matter separately told Reuters.
Many of India’s warships are without any helicopters because of years of underfunding, and the navy had sought their acquisition as a top priority.
