India to seek 30 MQ-9B Predator drones from US; deal likely during PM Modi's US visit
By Team Newsable | First Published Jun 15, 2023, 4:21 PM ISTThe MQ-9B Predator drone is a variation of the MQ-9 "Reaper" drone, which was used to lob a modified Hellfire missile that killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of Al Qaeda, in Kabul.
A week ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States of America, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council on Thursday gave clearance to procure the armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), MQ-9B Predator.
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Defence sources said that the meeting of the DAC was held on Thursday and the defence minister approved the proposal to acquire the predator drones. The next step will be to get a clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which comprises Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
It should be noted that the DAC is the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry. India will acquire as many as General Atomics-made 30-armable MQ-9B Predator drones. All three forces -- the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, would get an equal number of drones.
On the invitation of the US President, Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting to Washington from June 21 to 25. This is Modi's first state visit to the US in his nine-year regime as the prime minister.
MQ-9B predator drones
The drones have high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) and can be equipped with missiles. It has the capability to operate for around 30 hours in all weather conditions. The overall deal is expected to cost around $3 billion.
With their induction into the forces, it will strengthen the surveillance capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and deep into the Indian Ocean. The need to strengthen the surveillance capabilities has arisen after China’s People's Liberation of Army has been constantly upgrading and cementing military-infra along the 3488 km LAC and has developed armed drone capability.
The Chinese have also been supplying the same armed drone Wing Loong II to Pakistan. Currently, India is operating two predator drones, hired on lease from the US. The drones are being used by the Indian Navy to keep track of activities in the Indian Ocean region. This long-endurance remotely-piloted aircraft is highly sought after worldwide. It is reportedly said that countries like Great Britain, Japan, Belgium, and several others are already operating or are in the process of deploying the Predator drone.
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