US approves sale of Apache attack choppers to India

WASHINGTON DC: The United States government has approved a deal to sell the Indian military six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for $930 million, the State Department said Tuesday.

If no US lawmaker raises an objection the contract is expected to go ahead since the agreement has been passed to the US Congress for approval.

Boeing and Indian partner Tata have begun to produce Apache fuselages at a plant in India, but Tuesday’s approval concerns a direct sale of finished products from US manufacturers.

Lockheed Martin, General Electric and Raytheon are the US arms, aviations giants are the  lead contractors 

The contract includes night vision sensors, GPS guidance and hundreds of Hellfire anti-armor and Stinger air-to-air missiles addition to the aircraft.

“This support for the AH-64E will provide an increase in India’s defensive capability to counter ground-armored threats and modernize its armed forces,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said, in a statement.

“India will have no difficulty absorbing the helicopters and support equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”