US clears $428 million support package for India's Apaches, ultra-light howitzers

The United States has approved two major defence sustainment packages for India, one for the Indian Army’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and another for the M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers, in a move aimed at further deepening defence ties between Washington and New Delhi.

The US Department of State cleared the proposed Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deals worth an estimated USD 198.2 million for Apache helicopter support services and USD 230 million for M777A2 howitzer sustainment support.

According to the State Department, the proposed sales are intended to “support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship.”

"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve 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 State Department said.

While the AH-64E Apache remains one of the world’s most advanced attack helicopters, military planners have become wary of investing heavily in expensive crewed platforms that could be vulnerable in contested airspace. India had initially planned to induct 39 Apaches but scaled down purchases to 28 due to the high per-unit cost, while also shifting focus towards cheaper indigenous platforms and the growing role of unmanned systems in future warfare.

For the Apache fleet, India has requested AH-64E sustainment support services, including engineering, technical and logistics assistance from the US government and contractors, along with technical data, publications, personnel training and other related logistics and programme support elements.

The principal contractors for the Apache support package will be Boeing and Lockheed Martin, the State Department said.

The proposed support package is aimed at ensuring operational readiness and long-term maintenance of the Indian Army’s Apache attack helicopter fleet, which plays a critical role in frontline combat and surveillance operations.

In a separate approval, the State Department also authorised the possible sale of long-term sustainment support for India’s M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers. The principal contractor for the howitzer support package will be BAE Systems, located in Cumbria, UK.

The howitzer sustainment package will include ancillary items, spare parts, repair and return services, training, technical assistance, field service representatives, depot capability and other related logistics and programme support components.

The M777A2 howitzers, known for their lightweight design and mobility in mountainous terrain, are extensively deployed by the Indian Army, particularly along sensitive border regions.

The approvals come amid steadily expanding India-US defence cooperation over the past decade, with the two countries increasing interoperability, joint military exercises and defence procurement under strategic partnership frameworks.

Under the Foreign Military Sales mechanism, the US government facilitates defence sales and support agreements with partner nations, with the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) overseeing the process.

While the State Department has approved the possible sales, the proposed deals will now move to the US Congress for mandatory review before final implementation.

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