India has solidified its position as a significant purchaser of US military equipment, having acquired nearly $15 billion worth of arms in the past seven years, according to data compiled by Forum Arms Trade from Foreign Military Sales (FMS) notifications.
This surge in arms purchases underscores India's ongoing efforts to modernize its military and bolster its strategic capabilities amidst evolving geopolitical dynamics.
A recent analysis reveals that the Biden and Trump administrations have contributed equally to this upward trend in arms exports to India. Notable deals during the Trump era include the $2.42 billion procurement of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
This year, under the Biden administration, a landmark $2.99 billion agreement for 31 Predator drones was finalized, further solidifying the growing defence partnership between the two nations.
This development coincides with India's rise as the world's largest arms importer, surpassing Saudi Arabia. Between 2019 and 2023, India's share of global arms imports climbed to 9.8 percent, up from 9.1 percent in the preceding five-year period.
While Russia has historically been India's primary arms supplier, the past few years have witnessed a diversification of India's defence partnerships, with France and the United States gaining prominence.
Despite this shift, Russia still holds a significant share of India's arms imports, accounting for 36 percent between 2019 and 2023. However, this represents a considerable decline from its 58 percent share in 2014-2018 and 76 percent in 2009-2013.
France's influence has grown substantially, with its share of India's arms imports soaring to 33 percent in 2019-2023, largely attributed to the Rafale aircraft deal. Simultaneously, the US share has risen to 13 percent from 8 percent during the same period.
India's evolving defence landscape is not limited to imports. The country is steadily emerging as a defence exporter, with exports reaching Rs 21,083 crore in FY24, a 33 percent increase from the previous year. Government data highlights a remarkable 21-fold growth in defence exports over the past two decades, underscoring India's growing capabilities in defence manufacturing.
Some of the major arms deals between India and the US in recent years include:
- MK 54 MOD Lightweight Torpedoes: for anti-submarine warfare
- MH-60R Seahawk helicopters: multi-mission helicopters for anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol, and search and rescue
- C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft: for transporting troops, equipment, and vehicles
- Apache AH-64E helicopters: attack helicopters for close air support and anti-tank operations
- MK 45 naval guns: for surface warfare and coastal defence
- Harpoon missiles: anti-ship missiles
- P-8I anti-submarine aircraft: for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare
- MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft: drones for surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions
