NEW DELHI – A high-level US delegation will be in India next week to talk about a possible $4 billion contract to sell six new P-8I maritime patrol planes to the Indian military. The visit, which is set for September 16–19, is a joint effort by both countries to fix their relationship, which has been strained by a trade dispute over India’s continued purchase of Russian military equipment and oil.
The US team will include high-ranking officials from the Defense Department, such as the Navy International Programs Office (NIPO), the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft Program Office (PMA 290), and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). Representatives from Boeing, the company that makes the P-8 Poseidon aircraft, will also be there.
The visit comes at a bad time for the US and India to get along. Donald Trump’s government has constantly chastised India for relying on Russian military weapons. Recently, they put a 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods because India buys Russian energy. Even if there are still some problems between them, recent conversations on social media between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump have suggested that they are both still committed to working out their differences and moving forward with trade talks.
Improving India’s ability to watch over its waters
The planned sale of six P-8I planes should greatly improve the Indian Navy’s ability to fight submarines and ships. The Indian Navy already has 12 P-8I planes, with two squadrons deployed in Goa and Arakkonam. In two distinct agreements, one in 2009 for $2.2 billion and the other in 2016, these planes were bought.
The P-8I has shown that it is useful for more than just its main job. During the Doklam and Ladakh standoffs with China, the plane was very important for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). It works so well that Australia, another member of the Quad that also flies the P-8, has done joint drills and maritime patrols with it to make sure they can work together better.
Getting through a complicated relationship
India has been getting a lot of advanced military equipment from the US over the past 20 years, with contracts worth at least $24 billion since 2008. However, Russia still makes up around 60% of India’s military inventory. The US has been unhappy with this long-standing partnership, which has led India to buy more American military weapons.
A person who knows about the talks said that the P-8I is a “good fit” for the Indian Navy because they already use the plane and it has proven itself to be useful. This is different from other American products, including the F-35 fighter jets, which are thought to be “not suitable for Indian needs.”
People consider the US delegation’s visit as an indication that the two countries are still in touch with each other at the government level, even though there has been a trade dispute. The two countries have also talked through the Defence Policy Group and the 2+2 mechanisms, which shows that they both want to get their relationship back on track.
India has always defended its purchases of Russian oil and military hardware, saying that these choices are based on the country’s energy and national security needs. Even if things have been tense lately, both parties seem to be committed to the long-term strategic alliance, especially when it comes to defense and security.