Updated May 30, 2024
India-U.S.: Major Arms Transfers and Military Exercises
Since 2008, defense trade has emerged as a central facet of
purchase of 31 armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian and
the U.S.-India security partnership, and bilateral military
SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for more
exercises across all services are now routine. The U.S.
than $3 billion. Other proposed sales include turbofans for
Congress designated India a “Major Defense Partner” in
indigenously produced Indian combat aircraft, MK 54
2016, conveying certain defense trade and security
lightweight torpedoes, and additional Hellfire anti-tank
cooperation privileges. With U.S.-India defense relations
missiles and Excalibur guided artillery rounds. The Biden
becoming an increasingly high-profile aspect of U.S.
Administration continues to offer India “state-of-the-art
foreign policy—and the Biden Administration planning
capabilities,” including F-15EX Eagle II and F-21 Fighting
new bilateral technology-sharing and defense coproduction
Falcon combat aircraft for India’s air force.
agreements with India—Congress may wish to consider
adjusting U.S. laws and regulations in response to these
Major U.S. Arms Orders from and
plans. Possible future arms sales to and/or collaboration on
Deliveries to India by Use, 2000-2022
advanced military technologies with India may require
(Deliveries completed unless otherwise noted.)
congressional approval. Legislation introduced in the 118th
Congress would enhance India’s eligibility for arms sales.
Air
•
Major Arms Transfers
28 AH-64 Apache combat helicopters (22 delivered)
• 1,354+ AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles
India is the world’s largest weapons importer by value,
•
accounting for 10% of global arms imports from 2008 to
245 Stinger portable surface-to-air missiles
2023. New Delhi is expected to spend at least $200 billion
• 12 APG-78 Longbow combat helicopter radars
in the coming decade to modernize its armed forces. India’s
• 6 spare helicopter turboshafts
current defense arsenal is heavily stocked with Russian-
• 15 CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters
supplied equipment. Since 2008, about 62% of India’s
• 13 C-130 Hercules transport aircraft
defense imports (by value) have come from Russia; other
•
top suppliers include France (11%), the United States
11 C-17 Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft
(10%), and Israel (7%). The U.S. government is actively
• 2 MQ-9A Reaper UAVs (two-year lease in 2020)
encouraging India to reduce its dependence on Russian-
• 512 CBU-97 guided bombs
origin defense articles. Prior to 2008, U.S.-India defense
• 234 aircraft turboprops (228 delivered)
trade was relatively limited, involving modest U.S. sales of
• 147 aircraft turbofans (48 delivered)
naval helicopters and counterbattery radars in the mid-
2000s. In 2007, the United States also provided India with
Sea
an amphibious transport dock ship under the U.S. Excess
•
Defense Articles program—the former USS Trenton, now
1 Austin-class amphibious transport dock
the INS Jalashwa.
• 24 MH-60R Seahawk naval helicopters (6 delivered)
• 12 P-8I Poseidon patrol and anti-submarine warfare
India has contracted for nearly $20 billion worth of U.S.-
(ASW) aircraft
origin defense articles since 2008, according to the Defense
•
Department. India purchases these items through the
48 Mk-54 ASW torpedoes (32 delivered)
Foreign Military Sales and the Direct Commercial Sales
• 6 S-61 Sea King ASW helicopters
processes. India last received U.S. Foreign Military
• 53 Harpoon anti-ship missiles
Financing in 1965. Major U.S. defense sales to India over
• 1 Harpoon Joint Common Test Set (accepted)
the past 15 years include transport and maritime aircraft (C-
• 24 naval gas turbines (6 delivered)
130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster IIIs, and P-8I
Poseidons); transport, maritime, and attack helicopters
Land
(CH-47F Chinooks, MH-60R Seahawks, and AH-64E
•
Apaches); Harpoon anti-ship missiles; and M777 howitzers,
12 Firefinder counterbattery radars
among others. India is now the largest operator of C-17s
• 145 M-777 towed 155 mm howitzers
and P-8Is outside of the United States.
• 1,200+ M-982 Excalibur guided artillery shells
In June 2023, the United States and India launched a
• 72,400+ SIG Sauer SIG716 assault rifles
bilateral Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) to
expand strategic technology and defense industrial
Bilateral Military Exercises
cooperation. The same month, Ohio-based General Electric
Since 2002, the United States and India have been
issued an unprecedented proposal to jointly produce its
increasing the scope, complexity, and frequency of
advanced F414 jet engine in India, and India approved the
combined military exercises, with an emphasis on maritime
security and interoperability. India now conducts more
https://crsreports.congress.gov
India-U.S.: Major Arms Transfers and Military Exercises
exercises and personnel exchanges with the United States
including 50 nations and the participation of a U.S. Navy
than with any other country. (See italicized names below.)
guided missile destroyer.
Yudh Abhyas (Army): The 19th edition of the leading
Cutlass Express (Navy): In 2019, the Indian Navy
bilateral ground forces exercise was held in Alaska in
participated in exercises held near Djibouti and sponsored
October 2023. Elements of the U.S. Army’s 11th Airborne
by the Pentagon’s Africa Command. The March 2024
Division participated. The exercises are held at the battalion
edition of “East Africa’s premier maritime exercise” took
level (roughly 250 troops from each army), along with
place near Seychelles and included units from 167
brigade-level mission planning.
countries, India among them.
Vajra Prahar (Army Special Forces): U.S. and Indian
La Perouse (Navy): A two-day Indian Ocean exercise
Special Forces soldiers have held 14 joint exercises since
sponsored by France brought together elements from five
2010, and hundreds of U.S. Special Forces soldiers have
attended India’s Counter
navies (Quad plus France) in March 2023, including a
-Insurgency Jungle Warfare
stealth frigate and fleet tanker from the Indian Navy.
School. The most recent edition of this platoon-level
exercise was held in northeastern India in November 2023.
Sea Dragon (Navy): The 4th edition of this ASW theater
Cope India (Air Force): First held in 2004 as a fighter jet
exercise was held near Guam in March 2024, including
training exercise in northern India; in 2018, the two
forces from the Quad (among them an Indian Navy
countries’ air forces relaunched these exercises after a nine-
maritime patrol aircraft), plus South Korea.
year hiatus. Cope India 2023, held in April, was the sixth
and largest iteration ever, and included the participation of
Pitch Black (Air Force): Australia hosts this biennial low-
U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers and F-15 combat aircraft.
light warfare exercise, held most recently mid-2022 and
including forces from 17 countries, including an Indian
Tiger Triumph (tri-service): In 2019, U.S. and Indian
contingent of four combat and two transport aircraft.
forces conducted their first-ever tri-service exercise in the
Bay of Bengal to develop interoperability for large-scale
Red Flag (Air Force): The U.S. Air Force conducts aerial
joint and combined humanitarian and disaster relief
combat exercises with units from allied and partner
(HADR) operations. A third iteration was held in March
countries several times each year in the United States.
2024 and involved elements of a U.S. Marine Expeditionary
Indian combat aircraft and tankers joined in 2008 and 2016.
Unit and an Indian Army mechanized infantry battalion,
along with U.S. and Indian aircraft and naval vessels.
Other Notable Issues
Other notable bilateral exercises include Tarkash joint
India joined the U.S.-commanded, Bahrain-based
ground force counterterrorism exercises, which involve
Combined Maritime Force (CMF) as an associate partner
U.S. Special Forces and India’s elite National Security
in 2022. This multinational naval partnership has 34
Guard troops, and Sangam naval special forces exercises,
members and oversees four Joint Task Forces focused on
which bring together companies of U.S. Navy SEALs and
counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, and counter-piracy.
the Indian Navy’s Marine Commando Force.
India’s Defense Exhibition (DefExpo) is a biennial
showcasing of Indian defense wares. The October 2022
Multilateral Military Exercises
edition, held in western India, was the 12th and largest ever,
Malabar (Navy): The United States and India inaugurated
attracting participants from 75 countries, including the
Malabar in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise. Japan joined
United States, and more than 1,300 companies. Aero India
in 2014 and became a permanent participant the next year.
is a biennial air show and exhibition held since 1996 in
Australia’s participation began in 2020, bringing together
southern India and organized by India’s Ministry of
naval forces from all four Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
Defense and Air Force. Reportedly Asia’s largest air show,
(Quad) countries for the first time since relief operations
the February 2023 iteration included more than 730
conducted following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
exhibitors, and the United States displayed many of its most
Malabar’s 27th edition, hosted for the first time by Australia
advanced military aircraft. Numerous U.S. defense
in August 2023, involved several surface ships, along with
companies participated, as did the largest-ever delegation of
maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and submarines.
U.S. diplomats.
Participating U.S. forces included a guided-missile
destroyer, a fleet oiler, a submarine, and aircraft. India sent
Selected Legislation in the 118th Congress
a destroyer, a frigate, and a P-8I Poseidon aircraft.
S. 2096 and H.R. 4312, to enhance the eligibility of India for
Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC, Navy): The biennial
Foreign Military Sales and exports under the Arms Export
RIMPAC reportedly is the world’s largest maritime
Control Act, were introduced in the Senate and the House,
exercise. A 29th edition is set to be held near Hawaii in June
respectively, in June 2023.
2024 with the participation of 29 countries and 40 surface
ships, including units from India.
Sources: U.S. Departments of Defense and State; Embassy of
India; Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI);
Milan (Navy): India hosts this biennial Bay of Bengal
International Institute of Strategic Studies (London); press reports.
exercise, first held in 1994 with the forces of five Southeast
Asian nations. The U.S. Navy first participated in 2022.
The 12th edition in February 2024 was the largest ever,
K. Alan Kronstadt, Specialist in South Asian Affairs
IF12438
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India-U.S.: Major Arms Transfers and Military Exercises
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