The Pentagon has approved a $52.8 million sale of anti-submarine sonobuoys to India, enhancing defense cooperation and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations.
WASHINGTON, DC – The Pentagon has issued a federal notification regarding a proposed foreign military sale valued at $52.8 million to India. This transaction, which involves a new batch of anti-submarine sonobuoys, aims to deepen operational cooperation and reinforce the strategic partnership between the United States and India.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed in its notification that India has requested the purchase of U.S.-made sonobuoys, which are devices deployed from aircraft to detect underwater activity. The package, funded entirely by India, also includes manuals, support services, and technical assistance. Additionally, the U.S. government and contractor teams will provide assistance to operate and sustain the equipment.
According to the notification, the proposed transfer will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening the U.S.-India strategic relationship. It will also enhance the security of India, recognized as a major defense partner and an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.
The Pentagon stated that the sonobuoys will enhance India’s capabilities to track underwater threats and conduct anti-submarine missions. The proposed sale is expected to improve India’s ability to address current and future threats by bolstering its capacity to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations from its MH-60R helicopters. The notification emphasized that India will have no difficulty integrating this equipment into its armed forces.
Furthermore, the U.S. assessed that the transfer poses no risk to regional stability. The Pentagon noted that the proposed sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractors for this deal will be Sparton Corporation, based in De Leon Springs, Florida, and Undersea Sensor Systems Inc. (USSI) of Columbia City, Indiana, or a combination of both companies. The notification indicated that the deal includes no offset arrangements and will not require additional U.S. government or contractor personnel to be stationed in India. The Pentagon also assured that there would be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
An annex detailing technology sensitivity described sonobuoys as “air-launched, expendable, electro-mechanical sensors designed to relay underwater sounds to remote processors.” These devices are considered an effective and affordable capability for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations. The notification concluded that India meets U.S. standards for safeguarding sensitive equipment, stating that a determination has been made that India can provide a level of protection for the sensitive technology being released that is comparable to that of the U.S. government. This sale is deemed necessary to further U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives.
Over the past two decades, India and the United States have significantly expanded their defense cooperation, particularly in the areas of maritime security and undersea surveillance, as China’s naval presence grows in the Indo-Pacific. The MH-60R helicopters, for which these sonobuoys are intended, play a crucial role in India’s modernization plans. The U.S. designation of India as a “Major Defense Partner” has facilitated faster technology transfers and more advanced joint projects. This latest sonobuoy package aligns with that broader framework, reinforcing shared interests in safeguarding critical sea lanes and maintaining regional stability, according to IANS.