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US offers direct sale of spares for sea harrier jump jets
New Delhi, Aug 22: In another sign of growing defence ties between the US and India, Washington has offered direct sale of vital spares for the navy`s sea harrier jump jets and seaking helicopters, paving the way for operationalisation of these weapons systems.
New Delhi, Aug 22: In another sign of growing defence ties between the US and India, Washington has offered direct sale of vital spares for the navy's sea harrier jump jets and seaking helicopters, paving the way for operationalisation of these weapons systems.
"At the recent meetings between the US and Indian military officers, the US has now offered on-line sales of these spares to New Delhi", Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral John Desiliva said here.
He said such an offer meant that India did not now route the supplies through British manufacturers who would then have to go through the tedious process of seeking clearance from the US administration for the supply of these spares. The use of sea harriers, the navy's sole air strike force, as well as the seaking helicopters used in anti-submarine operations had suffered a big blow after the US imposed sanctions post-Pokhran blasts, with as many as 30 to 40 per cent of the fleet having been forced to be grounded at times.
As the US is now apparently looking at India as a military hardware sales market with recent deal for sale of Antpq 37 weapons locating radars and offer of sale of long range maritime surveillance aircraft P3c Orions, top naval officials said India would have to be "watchful" to ensure that these weapon system once supplied were not affected by threats of newer sanctions.
Bureau Report
He said such an offer meant that India did not now route the supplies through British manufacturers who would then have to go through the tedious process of seeking clearance from the US administration for the supply of these spares. The use of sea harriers, the navy's sole air strike force, as well as the seaking helicopters used in anti-submarine operations had suffered a big blow after the US imposed sanctions post-Pokhran blasts, with as many as 30 to 40 per cent of the fleet having been forced to be grounded at times.
As the US is now apparently looking at India as a military hardware sales market with recent deal for sale of Antpq 37 weapons locating radars and offer of sale of long range maritime surveillance aircraft P3c Orions, top naval officials said India would have to be "watchful" to ensure that these weapon system once supplied were not affected by threats of newer sanctions.
Bureau Report