The US State Department has approved the sale of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protection equipment to India.
The estimated cost is $75 million.
According to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency:
“The Government of India requested a possible sale of 38,034 M50 general purpose masks; Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST), which consists of 38,034 each: suits, pairs of trousers, pairs of gloves, pairs of boots and NBC bags; 854 aprons; 854 alternative aprons; 9,509 Quick Doff Hoods; and 114,102 M61 filters.
Also included in the potential sale is training; technical data; U.S. Government technical assistance; staging/consolidation; transportation; and other related elements of logistics support.”
This proposed sale will “contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States, by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in South Asia.”
India intends to use the equipment to modernise its armed forces.
This will, according to the agency, contribute to the Indian military’s goal to update its capability while enhancing the relationship between India and the United States.
Surprised how much NBC kit you can get for £75 million.
You would have thought considering the amount of Foreign Aid we lavish on India they could have placed the order in the U.K. So much for aid strengthening Trade as given as a reason for throwing this money away when it is urgently needed in the U.K.
Good comment Dave. Love it, sadly all too true.
we give foreign aid to countries that have no loyalty or particular friendship towards the uk.
India needs to be taken off the foreign aid list. They are building their own nuclear powered submarines, aircraft carrier battlegroups and have their own space industry. India might be a poor country in terms of average personal income but their government does not invest in their own countries infrastructure.
We need to half the FA budget now and pump £7.5 billion a year back into defence. That should plug all the holes we have within 2-3 years. Sadly that will never happen and the money will keep going abroad with no return on investment.