NEW DELHI: In a boost for New Delhi-Washington defence cooperation, the US has approved the possible sale of support services and related equipment for Apache helicopters to India for an estimated cost of $198.2 billion. The US Department of State also approved a possible sale of sustainment support for M777A2 ultra-light howitzers, bought earlier by India, for an estimated cost of $230 million. The cost of the total support package is $428.2 million.While the principal contractors for the Apache support services deal will be Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin, for the howitzers support, the principal contractor will be BAE Systems, located in Cumbria, UK.Saying “the Govt of India has requested to buy long-term sustainment support for M777A2 ultra-light howitzers”, the State Dept said, “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defence partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.” “The Govt of India has requested to buy AH-64E Apache sustainment support services; US Govt and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; technical data and publications; personnel training; and other related elements of logistics and program support,” the US statement said. Saying the “proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region”, the State Dept further said the deal will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defence, and deter regional threats. India will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”India had earlier bought a total of 28 Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from the US in two separate deals for the IAF ($2.2 billion) and the Indian Army ($930 million), all of which have been delivered. While 22 helicopters were delivered for the IAF between 2019 and 2020, six Apaches in batches of two, were received by the Indian Army in Dec 2025.On Nov 30, 2016, the Indian govt had signed a govt-to-govt contract with the US to purchase 145 M777A2 ultra-light howitzers. The $737 million deal was finalised under the foreign military sales (FMS) program. While BAE Systems supplied the first 25 guns in ready-to-use “fly-away” condition, the remaining 120 guns were assembled in India in partnership with Mahindra Defence Systems to support domestic defence manufacturing.