After Allowing Transfer Of Critical Jet Engine Tech, US Offers Upgraded M-777 Howitzers And Stryker Armoured Vehicle To India

The United States has offered Stryker Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) and upgraded M-777 ulta light howitzers (ULH) to India.

The Strykers IFV and upgraded M-777 were offered when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the United States (US) from 21 June to 24 June.

These are apart from the expected agreements to co-produce General Electric GE F-414 jet engines in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with transfer of technology (ToT), and the procurement of 31 MQ-9B Sea and Sky Guardian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) by the Indian Armed Forces.

According to reports, the US is offering an upgraded M-777 ULH howitzers equipped with long-range precision strike ammunition.

This will increase the strike range of M-777 from 30 kilometres to more than 40 kilometres.

It is worth noting, that India already operates 145 M-777 howitzer bought from the United States in 2016 at a cost of $750 million.

Under the contract 25 M-777s will be delivered off-the-shelf and the rest 120 will be built by Mahindra Defence Systems.

These howitzers weigh just about 4.2 tonnes and is designed to be heli-lifted by the US-made Chinook helicopters providing them exceptional tactical mobility.

Moreover, the Stryker IFV made by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) is a 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle capable of carrying nine fully-armed soldiers under armour to the battlefield, safely.

It could be equipped with a 30mm bushmaster gun or a 105 mm mobile gun system or a 120 mm mortar carrier.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with Tata Strategic Engineering Division (SED) has also developed another IFV of similar type, namely Tata Kestrel or WhaP (Wheeled Armoured Platform) for the Indian Army.

The most awaited deal, however, of the Prime Minister's US visit is the co-production of the GE F-414 jet engine with transfer of technology.

According to reports, the United States is willing to transfer about 80 per cent of the F-414's engine technology to India.

These high-end technologies are so critical that the US hasn't even shared them with close allies like the UK, France and Australia.