Washington, March 18, SPA -- The United States has approved the sale to India of eight Boeing anti-submarine airplanes in a $2.1 billion deal that would be the biggest U.S. weapons sale to India, the State Department said Tuesday. “The Department of State has notified Congress of the potential sale of eight P8i long-range maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the government of India,” spokesman Robert Wood said. “The U.S. government is prepared to license the export of these items, having taken into account political, military, economic, human-rights, and arms-control considerations,” Wood told reporters. The proposed deal is part of India’s efforts to modernize its military. The country expects to spend about $50 billion on equipment by 2018. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/645574