US approves India’s request to purchase 31 MQ-9B drones for $4 billion

Asia-Pacific, News, US February 3, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. State Department approved India’s request to purchase the first batch of 31 MQ-9B drones. The estimated $4 billion sale also includes 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, 310 GBU-39B/B laser small-diameter bombs, and 161 embedded global positioning and inertial navigation systems.

India had initiated a request to purchase U.S.-made drones, missiles, and related equipment in June 2023, citing its concerns over maritime surveillance and monitoring the country’s borders with China and Pakistan. A batch of 15 MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones is expected to be handed over to the Indian Navy while the Indian Armed forces and Air Force will receive eight each.

“The proposed sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats by enabling unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in sea lanes of operation,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) stated in it statement.

The statement added that “India has demonstrated a commitment to modernizing its military and will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”

MQ-9B SeaGuardian Drone — *^{GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft. (Image Credit: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems)}*

During his visit to the U.S. in June 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Singh Modi signed several agreements with U.S. President Joe Biden to enhance military cooperation between Washington and New Delhi.

Around the same time, India’s defense ministry approved plans to procure General Atomics MQ-9B drones. India also announced that drones will be assembled in India as General Atomics will establish a Comprehensive Global Maintenance, Repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the country’s long-term goals of boosting indigenous defense capabilities.

The U.S. General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed an MoU for manufacturing the F-414 jet engines in India, for the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Light Combat Aircraft Mk 2. This initiative to manufacture F-414 engines in India will enable the greater transfer of U.S. jet engine technology than ever before.

The proposed procurement had also come under discussion during U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J Austin’s talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh in Delhi in November.

MQ-9B Drone

The remotely piloted aircraft drones are made in two different variants, the Skyguardian and the Seaguardian. India acquiring both variants to be deployed for maritime and border security operations.

It has a wide range of operational capacities, including offensive missions, reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence operations. Classified as a High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drone, the MQ-9B can operate beyond the horizon for over 40 hours using satellite communication.

These drones can be equipped to carry laser-guided Hellfire Missiles. India plans to deploy these drones along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and on warships for missions in the Indian Ocean region. The integration of remotely piloted systems represents a paradigm shift in warfare and security dynamics of the region, where drones, alongside human-operated platforms, play a crucial role.

Downturn in US-India relations

Defense, economic, and diplomatic cooperation between the U.S. and India saw a downturn after an Indian security official stationed at the Indian embassy in the U.S. was alleged to have conspired to kill New York-based Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The allegation came around the same time when India was already facing a lot of pressure from the international community for its domestic human rights violations and the murder of Canadian citizen and prominent Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Both Nijjar and Pannun are linked with the Khalistan movement, which India describes as a separatist movement.

In recent times, India has used diplomatic channels to brush up on the murder allegation and got closer to the U.S. and its allies, largely due to China’s military modernization in the Indo-Pacific region.