India’s P-8I Aircrafts Set To Get Harpoon Air-Launched Missiles As US Approves Sale To India

The United States (US) Government has cleared the decks for the sale of air-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles and torpedos to India, reports The Times of India.

The sale would include 10 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II air-launched missiles and related equipment costing $92 million, and 16 MK 54 All Up Round Lightweight Torpedos (LWT), three MK 54 Exercise torpedos and related equipment costing $63 million. The total size of the sale reaches $155 million.

The Harpoon missile system will be integrated into India's P-8I aircrafts, enabling them to conduct anti-surface warfare missions in defence of the critical sea lanes. This would add to the might of Indian fleet of P-8I aircraft which are well equipped for long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of the broad area, maritime and littoral operations.

It should be noted that the P-8I aircrafts used by India utilise state-of-the-art communication and sensor suites which include indigenous equipment developed by the defence sector, including the public sector undertakings of the government, as well as the private majors.