India-U.S.: Major Arms Transfers and Military Exercises

Updated March 10, 2026

India-U.S.: Major Arms Transfers and Military Exercises

In October 2025, India’s defense minister—in the course of

inking a third 10-year defense framework agreement with

the United States—called defense “the major pillar” of

bilateral ties. The latest pact, meant to strengthen

“interoperability across all domains, including land, sea, air,

space, and cyberspace,” is described by the Pentagon as

“the most ambitious and wide-ranging [bilateral] document

yet.” In the National Defense Authorization Act for

FY2026 (P.L. 119-60), Congress called for “broadening

United States engagement with India, including through the

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue” (“Quad”), to “advance

shared interests in a free and open Indo-Pacific region” and

to “enable greater cooperation on maritime security.”

Since 2008, defense trade has emerged as a key aspect of

the U.S.-India partnership, and bilateral military exercises

across all services are now routine. The U.S. Congress

designated India a “Major Defense Partner” in 2016,

conveying certain defense trade and security cooperation

privileges. U.S.-India security relations became a highprofile aspect of U.S. Asia policy during the first Trump

Administration. The Biden Administration launched new

technology-sharing and defense coproduction initiatives

with India that the second Trump Administration is building

upon. Legislation in the 118th Congress would have

enhanced India’s eligibility for arms sales. The 119 th

Congress may wish to consider adjusting U.S. laws and

regulations to shape U.S.-India defense trade. Arms sales to

and collaboration on advanced defense technologies with

India may require congressional approval.

From 2016 to 2020, the United States and India concluded

several “enabling” defense cooperation accords which in

many cases provide the legal framework for an intensified

defense partnership, including a Logistics Exchange

Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA); a

Communications, Compatibility, and Security Agreement

(COMCASA); and a Basic Exchange and Cooperation

Agreement for Geospatial Cooperation (BECA). In 2018,

the United States elevated India to Strategic Trade

Authorization Tier 1, allowing it to receive license-free

access to some military and dual-use technologies regulated

by the Commerce Department. In 2019, the two countries

inked an Industrial Security Annex to enable transfers of

classified technology between private entities. In 2024, the

governments concluded a Security of Supply Arrangement

(SOSA) to facilitate defense industrial collaboration.

Negotiations on a Reciprocal Defense Procurement (RDP)

agreement began in 2023. Many analysts contend that an

RDP is needed to gain full SOSA benefits.

Major Arms Transfers

According to Stockholm International Peace Research

Institute (SIPRI) data, India has been the world’s leading

importer of major arms (by value) since 1950, with

purchases of nearly $140 billion through 2025. For the

period 2008-2025, India accounted for 10% of global arms

imports—$51.8 billion worth—well ahead of #2 Saudi

Arabia. India’s current defense arsenal is heavily stocked

with Russian-supplied equipment. Since 2008, about 59%

of India’s defense imports (by value) have come from

Russia; other top suppliers include France (12%), the

United States (10%), and Israel (9.5%). The U.S.

government has actively encouraged India to reduce its

dependence on Russian-origin defense articles, and India’s

suppliers are becoming more diverse: for the period 20212025, 40% of India’s imports came from Russia.

Prior to 2008, U.S.-India defense trade was relatively

limited, involving modest U.S. sales of naval helicopters

and counterbattery radars in the mid-2000s. In 2007, the

United States also provided India with an amphibious

transport dock ship under the U.S. Excess Defense Articles

program. The combined value of these three deals was

roughly $233 million. India has since contracted for at least

$25 billion worth of U.S.-origin defense articles, purchasing

items through the Foreign Military Sales and the Direct

Commercial Sales processes. Major U.S. deliveries since

2008 include transport and maritime aircraft; transport,

maritime, and attack helicopters; anti-ship missiles; and

howitzers, among others. India is now the largest operator

of C-17 Globemaster heavy transport and P-8I Poseidon

maritime patrol aircraft outside of the United States.

In 2023, India approved procurement of 31 armed MQ-9B

SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian uncrewed aerial vehicles

(UAVs) for about $4 billion; deliveries are set to begin in

2029. In 2025, India signed a five-year sustainment package

for its Seahawk helicopters; the estimated $946 million deal

would upgrade its anti-submarine warfare (ASW)

capabilities. India in 2025 ordered an additional 113 F404

engines for indigenously produced combat aircraft for about

$1 billion, and Delhi reportedly will procure another six P8I aircraft (~$3 billion). Other proposed sales include ASW

sonobuoys (~$251 million), Maritime Domain Awareness

equipment (~$131 million), Javelin anti-armor missile

systems (~$46 million), MK 54 torpedoes (~$175 million),

and Excalibur guided artillery rounds (~$47 million). The

United States also offers India advanced combat aircraft

such the F-21 Fighting Falcon, the F/A-18 Super Hornet,

and potentially the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II.

The United States and India launched a Defense

Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) in 2023 to expand

technology and defense industrial cooperation; this was

redubbed INDUS Innovation in 2025. At the time, General

Electric proposed to jointly produce—with technology

transfer—its advanced F414 jet engine in India. Discussions

on coproduction of Stryker infantry combat vehicles and

Javelin anti-tank missiles are ongoing.

https://crsreports.congress.gov

India-U.S.: Major Arms Transfers and Military Exercises

Major U.S. Arms Purchases, 2000-2025

(Deliveries completed unless otherwise noted.)

Air

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28 AH-64 Apache combat helicopters

1,456 AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles

245 Stinger portable surface-to-air missiles

12 APG-78 Longbow combat helicopter radars

15 CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters

13 C-130 Hercules transport aircraft

11 C-17 Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft

2 MQ-9A Reaper UAVs (two-year lease in 2020)

762 JDAM and CBU-97 guided bombs (612 delivered)

212 F404 jet engines (~70 delivered)

Sea

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1 Austin-class amphibious transport dock

24 MH-60R Seahawk naval helicopters (20 delivered)

6 APS-153 maritime aircraft radar (5 delivered)

12 P-8I Poseidon patrol and ASW aircraft

62 MK 54 ASW torpedoes

6 S-61 Sea King ASW helicopters

63 Harpoon anti-ship missiles

24 naval gas turbines (18 delivered)

Land

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12 Firefinder counterbattery radars

145 M-777 towed 155 mm howitzers

1,300 M-982 Excalibur guided artillery shells

145,400 SIG Sauer SIG716 assault rifles

Other bilateral exercises include Vajra Prahar for U.S. and

Indian Special Forces; Tarkash joint counterterrorism

exercises involving U.S. Special Forces and Indian National

Security Guard troops; and Sangam exercises for U.S.

Navy SEALs and India’s Marine Commando Force.

Multilateral Military Exercises

Malabar (Navy): The United States and India inaugurated

Malabar in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise. Japan joined

in 2014. Australia’s participation began in 2020, bringing

together naval forces from all four of the Quad countries for

the first time since joint HADR operations in 2004.

Malabar’s 29th edition, the sixth to include all Quad navies,

was held near Guam in November 2025.

Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC, Navy): The biennial

RIMPAC reportedly is the world’s largest maritime

exercise. A 29th edition was held near Hawaii in 2024 with

the participation of 29 countries and 40 surface ships.

Milan (Navy): India hosts this biennial Bay of Bengal

exercise, first held in 1994 with the forces of five Southeast

Asian nations. The U.S. Navy first participated in 2022.

The 13th edition in February 2026 was the largest ever with

ships, submarines, aircraft, and personnel from 52 nations.

Other multilateral maritime exercises include Cutlass

Express, sponsored by the Pentagon’s Africa Command; La

Perouse, sponsored by France; and Sea Dragon, an annual

ASW theater exercise. Multilateral air force exercises

include Pitch Black, a biennial low-light warfare exercise

hosted by Australia, and Red Flag, U.S. Air Force aerial

combat exercises held with units from allied and partner

countries several times each year in the United States.

Other Notable Defense Cooperation

Bilateral Military Exercises

Since 2002, the United States and India have been

increasing the scope, complexity, and frequency of

combined military exercises, with an emphasis on maritime

security and interoperability. India now conducts more

exercises and personnel exchanges with the United States

than with any other country. (See italicized names below.)

Yudh Abhyas (Army): The 21st edition of the premier

bilateral ground forces exercise, held in Alaska in

September 2025, included jointly planned and executed

battalion-level tactical maneuvers.

Vajra Prahar (Army Special Forces): U.S. and Indian

Special Forces soldiers have held 16 joint exercises since

2010, and hundreds of U.S. Special Forces soldiers have

attended India’s Counter-Insurgency Jungle Warfare

School. The most recent edition of this platoon-level

exercise was held in India in February-March 2026.

Cope India (Air Force): First held in 2004 as a fighter jet

training exercise, in 2018 the two countries relaunched

these exercises after a nine-year hiatus. Cope India 2025

saw Quad partners Australia and Japan attend as observers.

Tiger Triumph (tri-service): In 2019, U.S. and Indian

forces conducted their first-ever tri-service exercise in the

Bay of Bengal to develop interoperability for large-scale

joint humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operations. A

fourth iteration was held in April 2025.

India became a full member of the U.S.-commanded,

Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces in 2023. This

multinational naval focuses on counter-narcotics, countersmuggling, and counter-piracy. India has received at least

$1 million in U.S. International Military Education and

Training (IMET) funding annually since 2003. U.S. defense

firms have established Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul

(MRO) agreements in India, contributing to the

development of a bilateral defense ecosystem. Since 2023

the U.S. Navy has reached Master Ship Repair Agreements

with Indian firms, allowing U.S. warships to undergo

service at Indian shipyards. In February 2026 the two

governments launched the Autonomous Systems Industry

Alliance for co-development and co-production of

autonomous defense platforms.

Selected Legislation in the 118th Congress

S. 2096 and H.R. 4312 would have enhanced the eligibility of

India for Foreign Military Sales and exports under the Arms

Export Control Act.

Note: Arms purchase listings are sourced to SIPRI with further

inputs from the U.S. Departments of Defense and State.

K. Alan Kronstadt, Specialist in South Asian Affairs

https://crsreports.congress.gov

IF12438

India-U.S.: Major Arms Transfers and Military Exercises

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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12438 · VERSION 31 · UPDATED