US approves potential NASAMS FMS to India
The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has received the green light for the potential FMS of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to India, in a contract worth $1.87bn.
The prime contractors are Raytheon and its Norwegian partner, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
At the core of the contract are five AN/MPQ-64FI Sentinel radar systems, 118 AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM missiles, three AMRAAM guidance sections, four AMRAAM control sections and 134 Stinger FIM-92L missiles.
India wishes to expand its air defence capabilities to counter airborne threats. The sale comes months after tensions with Pakistan escalated as a result of the Indian government’s decision to make controversial changes to Article 370 in August 2019 relating to the status of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region.
However, the DSCA said that: ‘This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defensive partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.’
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