India and the United States are set to finalize a $3.3 billion (₹28,000 crore) agreement on Tuesday for the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, a deal that will push the total value of India's defense purchases from the U.S. to over $25 billion in the past two decades.
The Defence Ministry will now be approaching the Finance Ministry for expenditure approval
The addition of these 31 high-altitude, long-endurance "hunter-killer" drones will significantly enhance India’s military capabilities, particularly in executing long-range intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) missions and precision strikes on high-value targets. This comes as China increases its naval presence and support facilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
According to a defense ministry official, the government-to-government deal, approved by the PM-led cabinet committee on security on October 9, will see deliveries of the remotely-piloted aircraft systems, equipped with Hellfire missiles, GBU-39B precision-guided glide bombs, advanced navigation systems, sensor suites, and mobile ground control systems, begin within four years and be completed within six.
On the same day, another contract will be signed with General Atomics, the manufacturer of the drones, for establishing a global maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in India. About 34% of the drone components will be sourced from Indian companies, and some MQ-9Bs will also be assembled locally.
Capable of flying for nearly 40 hours at altitudes above 40,000 feet, the MQ-9Bs are considered superior to China's armed drones, such as the Cai Hong-4 and Wing Loong-II, which are being supplied to Pakistan.
Although the MQ-9B deal does not include a technology transfer, General Atomics will offer expertise and consultancy to Indian entities like DRDO for developing similar heavy-duty drones capable of missile launches and precision-guided strikes, comparable to manned fighter jets.
India plans to station these MQ-9B drones at ISR command centers in Arakkonam and Porbandar for IOR operations, and in Sarsawa and Gorakhpur to monitor land borders.
Few nations outside of NATO and key U.S. military allies possess Predator or Reaper drones, which are satellite-controlled and have proven their effectiveness in precision strikes in conflict zones like Afghanistan. However, some critics argue that these drones have largely operated in "uncontested air space" without encountering advanced air defenses.
The MQ-9B deal will be India’s second-largest defense agreement with the U.S., following the $4.5 billion acquisition of 11 C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Navy has also purchased 12 P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft from the U.S. for $3.2 billion. Additionally, the IAF has procured 13 C-130J 'Super Hercules' transport aircraft for over $2.1 billion, although one was lost in a crash during a training mission in 2014, resulting in the deaths of five personnel.
Comment by the Official
“There will be performance-based logistics (PBL) for the MQ-9Bs (15 Sea Guardians for Navy and 8 Sky Guardians each for Army and IAF) through the depot-level MRO for eight years or 1.5 lakh flying hours, whichever is earlier,” the official said.
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