The Indian Navy ships will get as many as 127 medium caliber guns from US Navy’s inventory. This is as part of a Rs 3800 crore deal
Bengaluru: The Indian Navy ships will get as many as 127 medium caliber guns from US Navy’s inventory. This is as part of a Rs 3800 crore deal.
Earlier, India had issued a Letter of Request to procure 11 '127 medium caliber guns' for Indian Navy's large-sized warships including the Vishakhapatnam-class destroyers of the Indian Navy.
However, according to the report, the first three guns will be delivered from the American Navy inventory to equip the Indian warships at the earliest. These three guns will be subsequently replaced once the production of new guns starts in the US and they are delivered to the Indian Navy.
These medium caliber guns are believed to be an upgrade on the existing weapons of the similar class in the Indian Navy.
The development comes amid an ongoing stand-off between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
The defence partnership between India and the US has reached new heights in recent times and the gun deal is a testament to the same. India has also replaced the majority of the Russian weapons along with the surveillance planes in the force with the P-8I aircraft.
Moreover, the MH-60 Romeos will substitute the SeaKing choppers. Indian Navy has also leased American Predator drones from US firm General Atomics too.
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