India Okays Some Part Of Contract To Buy 31 MQ-9B Predator Drones From US

India is in the final stage of concluding a major agreement with the United States to acquire 31 weaponised MQ-9B Predator drones. The deal is expected to be signed in the coming month. The defence ministry is currently in the process of finalising a draft note for submission to the finance ministry before seeking approval from the Prime Minister-led cabinet committee on security, according to a media report.

A report from the Ministry of Defence’s contract negotiation committee has been approved for this government-to-government deal, which was originally quoted at over Rs 33,500 crore by the US. Further progress is expected when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the US for the Quad Leaders’ Summit, hosted by President Joe Biden, in Wilmington, Delaware, on 21 September.

“The contract is expected to be signed by mid-October. After tough negotiations, the costs, setting up an MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) facility in India, performance-based logistics support and other matters have been settled,” a media report quoted a source.

Although the agreement does not include a direct technology transfer, the 31 drones will be assembled in India. The drone manufacturer, General Atomics, will invest in India and source over 30 per cent of components from Indian companies. General Atomics will also provide expertise to DRDO and other entities to support the development of similar drones domestically.

Defence Analyst, Ajay Shukla said that this deal represents a strategic leap for India's defence capabilities, especially in terms of long-range surveillance and precision targeting. By assembling the drones locally and involving Indian suppliers, the collaboration also supports India's ‘Make in India’ initiative, pushing the country further towards defence self-reliance, Shukla added.

The plan allocates 15 Sea Guardian drones to the Navy, while the Army and Air Force will each receive 8 Sky Guardian drones. The 31 MQ-9B drones, which are capable of flying for nearly 40 hours at altitudes exceeding 40,000 feet, will be equipped with 170 Hellfire missiles, 310 GBU-39B precision-guided bombs, navigation systems, sensor suites and ground control systems. India also plans to arm these drones with indigenous weapons, such as the naval short-range anti-ship missiles being developed by DRDO.

These drones will be used in long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, as well as in anti-warship and anti-submarine operations, a vital capability given the growing Chinese Navy presence in the Indian Ocean Region.

Air Marshal (Retd) PS Ahluwalia believes that the integration of Sea Guardian drones into the Navy will strengthen India's anti-submarine warfare capabilities. As Chinese submarines are becoming a regular feature in the Indian Ocean, having these drones will ensure quicker and more precise responses to any maritime threats.

China has been consistently deploying its survey and research vessels in the IOR. Chinese nuclear-powered submarines, which currently make occasional visits to the IOR, will soon be deployed regularly.

India expects to receive the first deliveries of these drones within two to three years. They will be stationed at ISR command and control centres in Arakkonam, Porbandar, Sarsawa, and Gorakhpur to monitor both maritime and land borders.

Sangeet Kumar Sanu

BW Reporters Sangeet Kumar Sanu as a Correspondent reports on Defence, Space and Foreign Affairs for BW since 2022.