WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 The Biden administration on Thursday approved a nearly $4 billion sale of drones and military equipment to India that are meant to be used to improve its maritime safety and surveillance.
The approval comes at a time when to increase its cooperation with the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, which is largely focused on countering China鈥檚 influence in the region.
The State Department notified Congress of the $3.99 billion sale that will include 31 Sky Guardian drones, 170 Hellfire missiles, 310 small-diameter bombs and related support material.
鈥淭his proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defense partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region,鈥 the department said in a statement.
It "will improve India鈥檚 capability to meet current and future threats by enabling unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in sea lanes of operation,鈥 it said, adding that India 鈥渉as demonstrated a commitment to modernizing its military and will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.鈥
