The sale of neither piece of military equipment will alter the basic military balance in the region, the Pentagon said, adding that it would support the foreign policy and national security of the US by helping strengthen strategic relationship with India.
The Mark 54 lightweight torpedos will provide the capability to conduct anti-submarine warfare missions. The proposed sale, it said, will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats from enemy weapon systems. 'That missile is a great system, adds range. While the Harpoon missiles will be manufactured by Boeing, the torpedoes would be supplied by Raytheon, the notification said. India will have no difficulty in absorbing this equipment into its armed forces," the Pentagon said. “India will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defence. In 2016, Washington recognised India as a “Major Defence Partner," a designation that allows New Delhi to buy more advanced and sensitive technologies from the US on a par with that its closest allies and partners.Īccording to the Pentagon, the Harpoon missile system will be integrated into the P-8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft to conduct anti-surface warfare missions in the defence of critical sea lanes of communication while enhancing inter-operability with the US and its partners.
The South China Sea and the East China Sea are said to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources besides being vital to global trade.
In the East China Sea, Beijing has territorial disputes with Japan. But Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims. China claims sovereignty over all of South China Sea. In recent years, China has been engaged in disputes with its smaller neighbours over the sovereignty of islands in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.
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