India is planning to add two MQ-9B armed drones to its arsenal– a move that could significantly enhance New Delhi’s long-range surveillance and air defence capabilities. The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with US defence major General Atomics to lease two MQ-9B SeaGuardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Indian Navy for a period of 30 months.
The contract, valued at approximately Rs 1,943 crore, was signed in New Delhi on Monday, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. India has already signed a $3 billion deal to procure 31 MQ-9B drones from General Atomics for tri-service use. Under the deal signed during Joe Biden’s administration, the navy will get 15 MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, and the army and the air force will get eight each of the land attack and reconnaissance versions called SkyGuardian.
The Defence Ministry said the lease of two drones will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s Maritime Domain Awareness capabilities. “The systems will provide persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance coverage over vast areas of the maritime domain, strengthening India’s ability to monitor and respond to developments across the Indian Ocean Region,” the ministry said.
