New Delhi: India and the United States on Tuesday signed a Rs 32,000-crore deal for tri-service procurement of 31 MQ-9B Sky/Sea Guardian High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remote Pilot Aircraft System (RPAS).
The agreement, which also includes setting up a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility here, has been finalized under a government-to-government framework. It aims to strengthen India’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, various news reports said.
Under the terms of the deal, the Indian Navy will receive 15 Sea Guardian drones, while the Indian Army and Air Force will each be equipped with eight Sky Guardian drones. These high-altitude, long-endurance drones are capable of operating for over 35 hours and carrying precision weaponry, including Hellfire missiles and guided bombs.
This deal marks one of the largest defence procurements between India and the US, second only to the earlier acquisition of 11 C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlift aircraft for the Indian Air Force. It follows a long-standing discussion between the two nations and was officially greenlit by India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last week.
The MQ-9B drones, which are a variant of the MQ-9 Reaper, have a proven track record in precision strikes, having been used in high-profile operations, such as the elimination of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in 2022.
With their ability to conduct long-range missions and carry advanced navigation systems, sensor suites, and precision-guided munitions, these drones will significantly enhance India’s capacity for surveillance and targeted strikes against high-value targets.
The delivery of the 31 drones, along with associated equipment like Hellfire missiles, GBU-39B precision-guided glide bombs, and mobile ground control systems, will begin within the next four years, with full deployment expected by 2030.
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