September 7, 2002	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Saani28,1423

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NEW DELHI, Sept 6: The United States proposes to sell four FireFinder counter-battery radar sets and associated equipment and services to India, the Press Trust of India reported from Washington on Friday.

It said the Pentagon has notified the US Congress on the proposed sale of $100 million radar systems, 13 Sincgar radios and associated equipment to India and the move “will not affect the basic military balance in the region.”

The sale “will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the US 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,” PTI quoted an official release as saying.

These radar sets will provide increased counter-battery artillery capability consistent with India’s force planning and defence strategy, it said.

The total value, if all options are exercised, “could be as high as $100m, the agency added.

The Sincgars radio systems would fulfil India’s strategic commitments for complete communicative inter-operability, standardization of equipment and communication with various vehicles and United States forces, it said, adding the country will have no difficulty in absorbing these sets into its armed forces.

The proposal came following India’s request for sale of four AN/TPQ-37(V)3 firefinder radars, 13 AN/VRC-90E Sincgar radios, generators, trailers,

communications equipment, global position systems, spare parts, training equipment and personnel after the United States lifted restrictions on arms sales to the country, imposed after the 1998 nuclear tests.

The United States had earlier offered to sell similar radars to Sri Lanka to combat a Tamil insurgency, Colombo-based newspapers say. —J.N