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The request was conveyed recently, and the Department
of Defense (DoD) notified the US Congress Oct
27 for approval as mandated by law for any Foreign
Military Sales (FMS) delivery of weapon systems.
The proposal is likely to be cleared within a
month as both the Democratic and Republican parties
have extended bipartisan support to strengthening
Indo-US relations.
In New Delhi, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief of
the Staff, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne, told
India Strategic
in an interview that he expected a formal agreement
with the US by January 2012. He also disclosed
that five of six C 130Js ordered in 2008 had already
been received, on or before scheduled delivery
time, and the last and sixth was expected before
November 11.
The first aircraft arrived in February 2011,
and pilot training was completed before that.
According to the DoD notification, issued by
the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)
which negotiates and executes military sales,
the deal could be around US $ 1.2 billion, covering
six aircraft with six spare engines, eight AN/AAR-47
Missile Warning Systems (two of them spares),
eight AN/ALR-56M Advanced Radar Warning Receivers
(two of them spares), eight AN/ALE-47 Counter-Measures
Dispensing Systems (two of them spares), eight
AAQ-22 Star SAFIRE III Special Operations Suites
(two of them spares), eight ARC-210 Radios (Non-COMSEC),
and 3200 Flare Cartridges.
Capable of short takeoff and landing from football
size unpaved grounds or grassy fields, each aircraft
is powered by four Royce AE 2100D3 engines.
The first six aircraft were acquired for $ 1.1
billion, inclusive of training, a support package,
spares, some special equipment and also covered
30 per cent offset investment back into India.
Under that, Lockheed Martin has set up an advanced
simulator at IAF’s Hindon airbase, where
the C 130Js are located.
The second batch would be located at Charbatia
in Orissa to serve the country’s north-eastern
region and Andaman and Nicobar island territories.
According to Air Chief Marshal Browne, as the
second batch of the aircraft is being purchased
under the options clause in the 2008, the basic
price should be the same. There could some equipment
variations or additional requirements though.
Offset details could also vary.
The price indicated by DSCA is the maximum possible,
including also the 3.8 per cent administrative
fee it charges on all FMS deals from all the countries
that buy US equipment. According to its notification,
implementation of this proposed sale may require
the assignment of ten U.S. Government and contractor
representatives in India for a period of up to
three years besides periodic visits.
Under an FMS deal, the Indian Air Force, through
the Ministry of Defence, would place an order
with the US Air Force, and DSCA would arrange
for Lockheed Martin to deliver the aircraft according
to the required specifications within an agreed
delivery time.
DSCA said that the prime contractors will be
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Marietta,
Georgia, and Rolls-Royce Corporation in Indianapolis,
Indiana. Offset agreements associated with this
proposed sale are expected, but at this time the
specific offset agreements are undetermined and
will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser
and the contractors.
It may be noted that all FMS deals are done
with clearance from the US State Department, and
the DSCA notification pointed out: There will
be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
A notification to the Congress also means that
it is part of legal procedures and does not mean
that the sale has been concluded.
Under the Indian system, the acquisition for
another six aircraft as a follow-on order, or
more later, would need no tender but only procedural
clearance from the Ministry of Defence and then
the government for monetary allocations.
The DSCA notification also said: "This
proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy
and national security of the United States by
helping to improve the security of an important
partner and to strengthen the US-India strategic
relationship," it said in the mandatory notification
to Congress.
"The proposed sale will provide the Indian
Government with a credible special operations
airlift capability that will help deter aggression
in the region and provide enhanced humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief support,"
The proposed sale of this equipment and support
will not alter the basic military balance in the
region, DSCA said, and "There will be no
adverse impact on US. defence readiness as a result
of this proposed sale."
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