Front Page

India seals major arms deal with U.S.

By Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI APRIL 18. India today signed the first major weapons deal with the United States in more than three decades. The $146-million government-to-government pact for purchasing eight weapon locating radars (WLRs) was signed by a visiting Defence Ministry delegation in Washington.

The finalisation of the deal comes days before the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. S. Padmanabhan, is due to visit the U.S.

The WLR was cited as a critical requirement for the Army by the high-level Kargil War Review Committee. "This sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security interests of the U.S. by helping to improve the security of a country that has been and continues to be a force for political stability and economic progress in South Asia,'' said a U.S. Defence Department statement.

The sale of the Thales-Raytheon manufactured WLRs is a watershed in Indo-U.S. military ties that picked up momentum after the September 11 terrorist strikes. It also marks the entry of the U.S. military industrial complex in the Indian market which has so far been dominated by the Russian and European companies. The deal also opens the doors for more sale of American weaponry to India, which has submitted a `shopping list' of 21 systems.

The acquisition of eight counter-battery ANTPQ-37 "Firefinder'' radar systems fills a crucial gap in India's defence systems. The radars can track a fired shell within seconds and pinpoint the precise location of the artillery from which it has been launched. Raytheon's "Firefinder" beat back the spirited competition by Russians, the Ukrainians and the Swedish as well as several attempts at disinformation. Gen. Padmanabhan is expected to interact with senior Pentagon members and Army officials during his week-long stay in the U.S.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Mayawati all set to become U.P. CM
• Plane crashes into Milan skyscraper
• All-party meet today
• Many students keep off exams in Gujarat
• India warns Pak. against disrupting fencing
• India seals major arms deal with U.S.
• Attack on scribe
• 12 injured in lathicharge
• Benazir, an 'absconder'
• Threat to MP

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu