US proposes $482.2M support for India’s Apache and M777A2

The United States has formally notified Congress of a proposed $482.2 million foreign military sale to provide long-term sustainment support for India’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers. The notification, issued by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency and published in the Federal Register on June 17, follows a State Department advisory to Congress on May 18 regarding the potential sale.

The proposed package consists of two separate support agreements. The first, valued at $230 million, covers comprehensive sustainment for India’s fleet of M777A2 howitzers. According to the official notification, this includes ancillary items, spares, repair and return services, training, technical assistance, and depot capability. The second agreement, worth $198.2 million, provides follow-on support for India’s AH-64E Apache helicopters, encompassing engineering, technical and logistics support services, technical data, publications, and personnel training.

U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor highlighted the development, stating in a social media post that the sustainment package for the howitzers is ready to be concluded and that the defense partnership...