The US State Department has given the green light for a potential $4 billion arms sale to India.
The deal, initially announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in June 2023, includes 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian armed drones, 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, 310 laser small diameter bombs, and various communication and surveillance equipment.
The approval comes after a temporary hold in December due to a Senate committee’s investigation into an alleged Indian assassination plot on US soil. Senator Ben Cardin, who had placed the hold, lifted it after the US government committed to a comprehensive inquiry.
The accusation against India involved a plot to assassinate an American citizen advocating for Khalistan, an independent Sikh state. Both the US and India have emphasized the need for accountability and investigations into the matter.
The Pentagon stated that the proposed drone deal will strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. The agreement now awaits final confirmation from the US Congress.