US plans $1.1 billion cargo plane sale to India

Washington: The Bush administration announced Wednesday a proposed sale to India of six Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT.N: Quote, Profile , Research) C-130J cargo planes and related gear worth up to $1.1 billion in what would be the first modern U.S. military aircraft deal with India.
The sale would bolster a "U.S.-Indian strategic relationship that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in South Asia," the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice to Congress.
The C-130J Super Hercules would give India "a credible special operations capability that will deter aggression in the region, provide humanitarian airlift capability and ensure interoperability with U.S. forces in coalition operations," the notice said.
The C-130J is a U.S. workhorse in Afghanistan and Iraq. India has requested as many as six of them along with four four Rolls-Royce Plc (RR.L: Quote, Profile , Research) spare engines, eight AAR-47 missile warning systems and communications equipment, the Pentagon said.
The package's estimated cost was $1.1 billion, it said, including personnel training and U.S. government and contractor engineering and logistics support.
30/05/07 Reuters.uk, UK

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Categories: Cargo May 2007, Foreign May 2007