The Indian military is close to purchasing a major American combat-weapon system for the first time in decades. Despite a history that might suggest otherwise, India is betting on American reliability as an arms supplier.
India has bought a considerable amount of military equipment from the United States in the last decade, but very few of its purchases were combat-weapons systems. Instead, India bought trainers, amphibious ships, maritime-patrol aircraft and especially transport aircraft—ten huge C-17 transport aircraft worth $4.8 billion, for example, and six C-130s worth almost another billion. But American fighter aircraft lost out in the Indian Air Force's competition for a new modern jet fighter—an enormous deal for 126 aircraft worth at least $20 billion—to the French. New Delhi's decision against the American aircraft irritated the White House.
Now India is close to buying twenty-two AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters. The deal includes over 1300 Hellfire missiles and advanced radar systems. All together, it amounts to at least $1.4 billion in sales. The Apaches have outperformed a Russian competitor. The deal will provide India with a battle-tested system used effectively by U.S., U.K. and Israeli forces.
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