India-US Ink Deal Worth ₹31,000 cr for 31 Predator drones

India has inked a deal with United States (US) to procure 31 predator drones worth ₹32,000 crore. This development comes following PM Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of Quad Leaders’ Summit that took place last month in Delaware.

As per the deal, 15 of the total predator drones will be distributed to Indian Navy while the rest will be equally apportioned between Air Force and the Army.

The procurement of the advanced hunter killer drones will bolster India's military capabilities. The drones will facilitate in conducting long-range strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions while also enabling precision strikes against high-value targets. This acquisition comes at a time when China has been rapidly expanding its naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Additionally the deal also focuses on establishing Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in the country.

A defence ministry official said that the PM-led committee has already given a go-ahead on October 9 to procure the deliveries of 31 remotely-piloted aircraft systems in addition to Hellfire missiles, GBU-39B precision-guided glide bombs and navigations systems among many. These additional procurements can take up to 4 years to commence.

Operated by a few NATO members, these predator drones are controlled via satellites. India is currently eyeing to deploy these MQ-9B drones at four locations which include Chennai, Porbandar in Gujarat, Sarsawa and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Notably, MQ-9B drones are capable of flying 2,000 miles without refueling. With a capacity of up to 1,700 kg of cargo, the drone’s manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems claims that the drone can fly nonstop for a duration of 35 hours.