US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has given permission to sell Sonobuoy, a small expendable sonar buoy dropped from aircraft or ships for anti-submarine warfare or underwater acoustic research, to India. The Secretary of State announced on August 23, 2024 that Sonobuoy, capable of detecting submarines, and its related equipment could be sold to India for military purposes. Washington DC has fixed the estimated price of this device at USD 52.8 million!
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), an agency under the US Department of Defence, has issued a statement, mentioning that documents related to this potential sale have already been sent to the US Congress for necessary certification. The agency has revealed that India wants to purchase three types of Sonobuoys from the US. New Delhi has also urged Washington DC to send the Sonobuoys, along with the necessary documents and materials in order to use the equipment without any hazards.
In a notification sent to the US Congress on August 23, 2024, the Joe Biden Administration mentioned that the proposed sale would support Washington DC's foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to strengthen the bilateral strategic relationship and improving the security of a major defence partner, India, which "continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions".
The DSCA stated: "The Government of India has requested to buy AN/SSQ-53G High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-62F HAASW sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-36 sonobuoys; technical and publications and data documentation; US Government and contractor engineering and technical support; and other related elements of logistics and programme services and support." It added: "The proposed sale will improve India's capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing its capacity to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations from its MH-60R helicopters. India will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region."
It may be noted that the Sonobuoy devices are kept in an elongated cylindrical box that are thrown into the sea usually from aircraft. The sensors of this device can easily identify the location of submarines beneath the ocean.
During his recent visit to the US, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh discussed the issue with US Defence Secretary Lloyd James Austin III. They also discussed issues related to bilateral defence cooperation and various aspects of regional security in the Indo-Pacific Region. The US agreed to sell three types of Sonobuoys to India the day after the meeting between Singh and Austin.
Interestingly, the DSCA has made it clear that the proposed sale of this device and supporting equipment will not alter the basic military balance in the Indo-Pacific Region. However, the Eurasian Times reported on August 24, 2024 that the acquisition of anti-sub Sonobuoys from the US would boost the Indian Navy that was working towards bolstering its anti-submarine warfare. The Chinese Navy, too, is trying hard to overcome the geographical bottleneck of the Strait of Malacca by having access to ports in the Indian Ocean Region.
Hence, the sale of Sonobuoys may well be considered as a part of the US' plan to counter the Chinese hegemony in the Indo-Pacific Region with the help of India.
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