To boost India’s native capability, America has proposed consultancy to develop an advanced drone under the $3 billion MQ-9B drone agreement, awaiting review by the government.
Under the $3.1 billion deal between India and the US for 31 MQ-9 B Predator drones, the American side is proposing to offer consultancy to Indian organisations to develop an advanced indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
According to defence sources, this proposal is expected to be reviewed and potentially approved at the upcoming Defence Acquisition Council meeting on Monday. This will be the first meeting under the NDA government’s third term. It is anticipated to advance the defence minister Rajnath Singh’s indigenisation efforts in the sector.
Sources have indicated that the consultancy from the US may significantly reduce the time required to develop a highly advanced drone. General Atomics, the American company involved in the government-to-government deal, has been in discussions with Indian officials over the past few weeks, according to the Business Standard.
The drone deal, which has been in negotiation for several years, involves the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B drones for the three Indian military branches. The Indian Navy will receive 15 drones for maritime zone coverage, while the Air Force and Army will each get eight drones.
The American side has issued a letter of acceptance for the drones, which are estimated to cost around $4 billion. Still, India plans to opt for a reduced package, lowering the overall cost.
The deal, spearheaded by the Indian Navy, is being conducted at the tri-service level. The MQ-9B drones, which require long runways for takeoff and landing, will be deployed at Indian Air Force bases. The Indian Air Force and Army’s share of these advanced long-endurance drones will enhance their ability to monitor areas of interest along the line of actual control (LAC) with the aid of existing assets.
The MQ-9B drones are planned for deployment at four locations: INS Rajaji near Chennai and Porbandar in Gujarat by the Indian Navy. Due to the long runway requirements, the Air Force and Army will jointly operate them from bases in Sarsawa and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
The Sarsawa and Gorakhpur bases are anticipated to enhance military surveillance capabilities along the LAC with China, extending from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
With a flight time exceeding 36 hours and operating at altitudes over 40,000 feet, the drones are capable of carrying Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs. They are specialised for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
The MQ-9B Predators are anticipated to significantly boost India’s unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and along its borders with China and Pakistan. They have previously been crucial in monitoring anti-piracy operations, providing detailed situational awareness from nearly 3,000 km away from Indian shores.
