US biggest arms supplier to India in last three years: Def Min

In the last three years, the United States has taken over Russia as the largest supplier of weapon systems to India, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Answering a written query in the Lower House, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said in the last three years, India spent Rs 83,458 crore for procuring equipment from foreign vendors which included Rs 32,615 crore worth of supplies from the US whereas Russia exported hardware worth Rs 25,363.96 crore in this period.

In the last three years, India has bought several equipment from the US 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 per cent 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 Rs 12,046 crore, Jaitley said.

Israel is at the fourth position with sales of Rs 3,389 crore while other sources account for Rs 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 per cent to 49 per cent.

Image: The C130J Super Hercules aircraft