 "During his meeting with US President Donald Trump, PM Modi is expected to talk about defence acquisitions from the US. The PM is likely to push for the acquisition of six additional P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft as well as the Stryker combat vehicles. File image/AP")
After sealing strategic deals in France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the United States where he will meet with President Donald Trump. The meeting between the two will be the first since Trump’s dramatic return to the White House for a second term.
Modi has a bucket list of items to discuss with Trump — none as important as the tariffs that the US president has slapped on others. In fact, New Delhi has so far been spared any new tariffs, which comes as a relief for PM Modi and the country.
The issue of illegal Indian immigrants will also undoubtedly figure in talks between Donald Trump and PM Modi. But beyond these immediate concerns, the main focus of the meet will be in the area of defence. It is reported that PM Modi has a giant defence wishlist which he hopes to achieve at the end of his visit.
So, what’s on Modi’s defence acquisition list? Which weapons and armaments is India looking to buy from the US?
Stryker infantry vehicle deal
Topping PM Modi’s acquisitions are the Stryker infantry combat vehicles. India has expressed interest in co-producing these vehicles along with its main manufacture, General Dynamics. Last September-October, these combat vehicles had been demonstrated for the Indian Army.
For those who are unaware, the Stryker is a highly deployable-wheeled armoured vehicle that combines firepower, battlefield mobility, survivability and versatility, with reduced logistics requirements. The US Army states that there are 18 different variants of the Stryker — some built to move soldiers in and out of battle while others are designed to carry weapons.
They first saw combat in Iraq in 2003.
Sources told The Hindu that the plan is for India to procure a few hundred vehicles in two stages. Direct import of a small number of Strykers in the first stage and licence manufacture of a bulk of them, with some customisations, in India likely by defence public sector undertaking Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML).
Earlier, in June 2024, then US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M Campbell had said that India had expressed interest in co-production of the Stryker infantry vehicles and the two countries were in relatively early stages of talks on the Stryker. However, there were some reservations expressed by officials on both sides.
P-8 military patrol aircraft
Reports say that PM Modi is also looking to procure six more advanced P-8 long-range maritime patrol and submarine-hunting aircraft from the US .
Manufactured by Boeing, the P-8 aircraft is designed for long-range, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The Indian Navy had issued a request for these aircraft in the past, but it was deferred. These P-8, which are able to hunt submarines in the deep waters, are the primary platform for the Indian Navy for long-range surveillance. Moreover, in recent times owing to China’s expansionist stance in the Indian Ocean, these planes have become of critical need for India.
India is already in possession of 12 P-8s; in 2009, it purchased eight of them in a deal worth $2.2 billion and in 2016, four more were purchased.
F-414 jet engines
PM Modi will also be looking to finalise talks on the co-production of the General Electric F-414-INS6 aero-engines in India. As per an Economic Times report, these engines are meant for India’s Tejas Mark-II fighter jets and are valued around $1.5 billion.
As part of the agreement, 80 per cent of the technology for engine parts will be transferred to India, highlighting the push for co-development rather than simply purchasing finished products.
MQ-9B drones
During his US visit, PM Modi is also expected to push for the quicker delivery of the 31 MQ-9B drones .
New Delhi had inked a deal with Washington for the procurement of 31 of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) last October worth Rs 32,000. As per the agreement, India would have these drones by 2029.
The MQ-9B drones, manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, will give India a huge boost in the surveillance department. Measuring 11-metres long and having the capability of operating up to 50,000 feet, they are designed for long-endurance and high-altitude surveillance
At the time of signing the deal, military experts had said to India Today that these hunter-killer drones would help Indian forces to “launch remote-controlled operations and surgical strikes, such as on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and engage targets on the Himalayan borders with China.”
MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
Some reports suggest that during his US visit, PM Modi will also push for the timely arrival of the MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the Indian Navy. Last December, the US approved the sale of MH-60R multi-mission helicopter equipment and related supplies at an estimated cost of $1.17 billion to India.
Also known as ‘Romeo’, the Lockheed Martin-manufactured helicopter is a multi-mission naval aircraft designed for both anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
The helicopters, designed to operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers, are the US Navy’s primary anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface weapon system for open ocean zones. According to the Lockheed Martin website, the MH-60R is the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter.
According to a Financial Express report, this helicopter can detect unknown submarines and ships lurking in the waters and have the capability to launch submarine detection sono-buoys — both active and passive as part of anti-submarine (ASW) ops.
‘Romeo’ helicopters also have anti-surface-warfare capabilities, which means they will be capable of detecting surface threats and taking action against enemy ships too, as per The Print.
India-US defence ties
It will be interesting to see how PM Modi navigates ties with Trump, who has been pushing India to crank up military sales from the US. After taking office in January, Trump had signalled to New Delhi that it should increase its procurement of US weapons.
This is even as India has contracted for more than $20 billion worth of US-origin defence articles since 2008, according to the Defense Department.
The move by Trump is, perhaps, an effort by Washington to nudge India further away from Russia, which has been the country’s defence partner for long. In fact, a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report revealed that Russia remains the top arms seller to India between 2019 and 2023.
With inputs from agencies