On Tuesday, India signed a significant agreement with the United States to purchase 31 long-endurance Predator drones from American defense giant General Atomics through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, officials confirmed. The deal is estimated to cost around $4 billion (approximately ₹32,000 crore).
The primary objective of this deal is to enhance India’s military capabilities, particularly along its contested borders with China. The agreement, signed in the presence of India’s top defense and strategic officials in the capital, marks a significant boost in military ties between the two nations. This deal was finalized just weeks ahead of the US presidential election.
Last week, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the acquisition of MQ-1B Hunter Killer drones. Vivek Lall, CEO of General Atomics Global Corporation, who played a key role in these discussions, was present at the signing. The estimated cost for the drones is around $4 billion. India is acquiring these drones primarily to enhance its surveillance capabilities along the disputed border with China.
In June last year, the Ministry of Defense had approved the purchase of MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the US under a government-to-government framework. The MQ-9B is a variant of the MQ-9 Reaper, which was used to launch a modified version of the Hellfire missile. This type of drone was instrumental in the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul in July 2022.
Under this deal, the Indian Navy will receive 15 Sea Guardian drones, while the Indian Air Force and Army will each receive eight Sky Guardian drones. These drones are capable of operating at high altitudes, remaining airborne for over 35 hours, and carrying up to four Hellfire missiles and around 450 kg of bombs.
The Sea Guardian drones are particularly valuable as they can perform a wide range of roles, including maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and targeting cross-border threats.
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