India signs a mega deal with the United States to procure 31 predator drones.
On Tuesday, India entered into a significant agreement with the United States to procure 31 Predator drones long-endurance from American defense major General Atomics under the foreign military sales route, at a cost of nearly USD 4 billion. The aim is to enhance the combat capabilities of the Indian military along the disputed borders with China.
The agreement, which was signed in the presence of senior defense and strategic officials from India in the national capital, signifies a significant expansion of military ties between the two nations, officials informed PTI.
The drone procurement was completed just weeks before the US presidential elections.
The Navy will receive 15 drones, while the Army and Air Force will each receive eight drones. US military and corporate representatives currently in New Delhi will sign the contract, according to defense officials
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The naval systems’ Joint Secretary and Acquisition Manager will attend the signing ceremony. A recent Defense Acquisition Council meeting gave final clearance for this deal, which had to be completed before the US’s October 31 deadline.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet Committee on Security approved buying MQ-9B ‘hunter killer’ drones.
Vivek Lall, the Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation, who was involved in the negotiations on the deal, was present at the signing ceremony.
The purchase of 31 Predator drones from the US is expected to boost India’s military surveillance capabilities by a sum of Rs 32,000 crore. On Tuesday, the deal is expected to be signed Along with the procurement, a maintenance, repair, and overhaul center will be established in India. The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force received a significant boost from the Cabinet Committee on Security last week.
Officials estimate that the drones will cost about USD 4 billion.
India is set to receive 31 US Predator drones that were utilized in the Operation Against Osama bin Laden, and a deal worth Rs 32,000 crore has been signed to enhance military surveillance.
India is buying drones to improve the way the army watches things, especially near the border with China.
In June last year, the Defense Ministry approved the purchase of armed drones from the US.
The MQ-9B drone was used to launch a modified Hellfire missile that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul in July 2022. The Navy will get 15 Sea Guardian drones, and the Army will get eight Sky Guardian drones. The long-range drones can stay in the air for more than 35 hours and can carry four Hellfire missiles and around 450 kilograms of bombs. The Sea Guardian drones can do many things like watching ships, fighting against submarines, and aiming at things far away.