India and the United States (US) on Tuesday signed the agreements worth Rs 32,000 crore for the purchase of 31 long-endurance armed MQ-9B Predator drones for the three armed forces and setting up a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility (MRO) for them in the United States. country, news agency ANI reported, citing unnamed defense officials.
The deals were reportedly signed by both sides in the presence of senior officials.
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The deal to acquire the 31 Predator drones from US defense manufacturer General Atomics further strengthens India’s ongoing defense partnership with the US. Earlier reports had indicated that the deal would include 15 Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy and 16 Sky Guardians for the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF).
Why is India buying these ‘hunter-killer’ drones?
India is procuring these ‘hunter-killer’ drones – 16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian units – to strengthen its surveillance capabilities along the border with China and in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
In May, it was reported that the Indian Army and the IAF are planning to jointly deploy the Predator drones at air bases in Sarsawa and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
These drones will enhance their surveillance capabilities along the entire Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
At the time, defense officials had said so ANI that since these drones require a “significant runway length” for take-off and landing, which are available in the IAF, the Army’s drones will also be deployed in the IAF at air bases in Sarsawa and Gorakhpur.
The IAF and the Army will have eight of these long-endurance drones each, allowing them to cover almost all areas of interest along the LAC with support from other existing assets.
Meanwhile, 15 of the 31 MQ-9B drones will be deployed by the Indian Navy for maritime zone coverage.
They are expected to significantly enhance the Navy’s ability to conduct unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in the IOR.
With a flight time of more than 36 hours at altitudes above 40,000 feet, the Predator drones can be armed with Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and smart bombs. These drones are also specialized in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
First publication: October 15, 2024 | 2:23 PM IST