U.S. Biggest Arms Supplier To India In Last Three Years: Govt

U.S. Biggest Arms Supplier To India In Last Three Years: Govt

NEW DELHI: In the last three years, the U.S. has taken over Russia as the largest supplier of weapon systems to India, Lok Sabha was informed.

Answering a written query in the Lower House, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said in the last three years, India spent 83,458 crore for procuring equipment from foreign vendors which included 32,615 crore worth of supplies from the U.S. whereas Russia exported hardware worth 25,363.96 crore in this period.

In the last three years, India has bought several equipment from the U.S. including the C130J Super Hercules aircraft, Harpoon anti-submarine missiles and the C-17 Heavylift transport aircraft.

Russia has traditionally been the largest supplier of weapons to India and the armed forces still have almost 70 percent of their vintage equipment from that country.

France, which has been bagging a number of deals from India for submarines and fighter aircraft, has emerged as the third-largest supplier by selling equipment worth 12,046 crore, Jaitley said.

Israel is at the fourth position with sales of 3,389 crore while other sources account for 10,043 crore worth of sales.

Meanwhile, answering another query, Jaitley said the government was working out the details and conditions of the FDI policy to raise FDI cap from 26 percent to 49 percent.

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