India secures major deal with US to acquire advanced Predator drones

India has reached a pivotal agreement with the United States to acquire 31 long-range MQ-9B Predator drones to bolster its armed forces.

The deal will be executed through an inter-governmental arrangement with General Atomics, Caliber.Az reports via Indian media.

Under the agreement, the Indian Navy will receive 15 Sea Guardian drones, while the Air Force and Army will each obtain 8 Sky Guardian drones. These UAVs are expected to significantly enhance India’s surveillance and combat capabilities. Deliveries of the drones are projected to begin within four years following the deal's finalisation.

In February, the U.S. State Department authorised the potential sale of the MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones and related systems to India, a package valued at $3.99 billion. The Indian government has requested not only the 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones but also 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, 310 GBU-39B guided bombs, spare parts, and various support systems.

India’s Navy had previously leased two Sea Guardian drones, an unarmed variant of the Predator, from General Atomics for real-time maritime surveillance. The lease, initially set to expire in January 2024, has been extended by an additional four years, allowing the Indian Navy to continue monitoring strategic maritime areas.

By Tamilla Hasanova