US issues federal notification for $52.8 million sale of anti-submarine sonobuoys to India
Washington, Dec 5 ( LatestNewsX ) – The Pentagon filed a federal notice announcing a proposed U.S.‑India defense sale of 52.8 m for a fresh batch of anti‑submarine sonobuoys. The deal is intended to tighten joint operations and strengthen the strategic ties between the two nations.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) noted in the notice that New Delhi requested U.S.‑made sonobuoys—air‑launched devices released from aircraft to detect underwater activity. The purchase also covers manuals, support services, and technical assistance. India will fully fund the package, which includes U.S. government and contractor help to operate and maintain the equipment.
As stated in the notification, the transfer “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by helping to strengthen the US‑India strategic relationship and improving the security of a major defence partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo‑Pacific and South Asia regions.”
The Pentagon added that the new sonobuoys will broaden India’s capacity to track underwater threats and conduct anti‑submarine missions. “The proposed sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing its capacity to conduct anti‑submarine warfare operations from its MH‑60R helicopters. India will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” the notice said.
The U.S. also evaluated that the transfer does not threaten regional stability. “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
Primary contractors are Sparton Corporation in De Leon Springs, Florida, and Undersea Sensor Systems Inc. (USSI) of Columbia City, Indiana, or “a combination of both.” The notice emphasizes that there are no offset arrangements and no extra U.S. personnel will be stationed in India. “There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale,” the Pentagon noted.
An annex detailing technology sensitivity described sonobuoys as “air‑launched, expendable, electro‑mechanical sensors designed to relay underwater sounds to remote processors. Sonobuoys are an effective and affordable anti‑submarine warfare (ASW) capability for the airborne ASW warfighter.”
The notification concluded that New Delhi meets American safeguards for sensitive equipment. “A determination has been made that India can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the US Government. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the US foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification.”
India and the United States have deepened defense collaboration over the past twenty years, focusing on maritime security and underwater surveillance as China expands its naval presence across the Indo‑Pacific. The MH‑60R helicopters, which will carry these sonobuoys, are a key element of India’s modernization drive.
Washington’s designation of India as a “Major Defence Partner” has enabled quicker technology releases and more advanced joint initiatives. The new sonobuoy package fits neatly into that broader framework, reinforcing common interests in protecting vital sea lanes and sustaining regional stability.
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