The total cost of the deal is likely to be under $3.5 billion.
New Delhi: In a major boost to the armed forces, India has signed a deal with the US to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predator drones.
The Indian Navy is likely to get 15 drones, which will be the ‘SeaGuardian’ variant, while the Army and the Air Force will be allotted eight each of the ‘SkyGuardian’ Predator drones. The total cost of the deal is likely to be less than $3.5 billion, sources told NDTV.
The deal to acquire the drones from US manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) under a foreign military sales contract between the two governments was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security earlier this month.
The MQ-9B Predator drone is a variant of the MQ-9 ‘Reaper’ developed by GA-ASI and is classified as a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The drone can fly for up to 40 hours at a stretch at altitudes of over 40,000 feet. It has an external payload capacity of 2,155 kg.
In addition to its surveillance capabilities, the MQ-9B is equipped with strike missiles, allowing it to hit targets with high precision. It is capable of automated take-off and landing, and can safely integrate into civilian airspace.
These capabilities make the drone ideal for land and maritime surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, electronic warfare, and expeditionary missions, which involve going to a particular location and accomplishing a specific objective in response to a crisis.
In February, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller had highlighted the significance of this deal in advancing strategic technology cooperation with India and enhancing military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
He said, “The US-India defense partnership has seen significant growth over the past decade. This is a proposed sale that was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit last year. We believe it provides significant capabilities to advance strategic technology cooperation with India and military cooperation in the region.”
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