USA secures INR 34000 Crores Predator Drone Deal, Indian Cabinet grants approval
Indian govt grave approval for supply of 31 armed drones to USA, whereby the American company secured a INR 34000 crores defence deal.
In a landmark move this is a major defence deal other than from Russia and France. India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the supply of 31 armed drones by the US.
The decision related to the armed drones comes at a crucial juncture, with the US Presidential elections just around the corner, underscoring the significance of the deal for USA.
For India too these drones will be a gap filler till indigenous drones start getting deployed in future. The focus of this announcement was supply of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones by General Atomics company of USA.
The deal is Valued at approximately INR 34000 crores, and marks a transformative moment in sale of modern defence equipment by USA to India.
It also highlights the evolving wooing of India by the US, a relationship that has seen substantial progress in recent years, particularly in the defence sector.
The sale of the MQ-9B Predator drones is not just another routine defence purchase; it represents a significant leap forward for USA government and its companies to be able to secure a deal of this kind.
These drones will be utilized by India to strengthen its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, till it starts deploying indigenous equipment.
These drones, capable of flying for up to 40 hours at a stretch, are armed with precision-strike missiles and can hit targets on land, at sea, and in the air.
This makes them invaluable assets for the Indian Armed Forces, particularly in monitoring sensitive areas such as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean.
India asses altheas, Moreover, the timing of the deal is crucial for the present USA administration. With a deadline of October 31, 2024, to finalize the agreement, any delay could lead to renegotiations or further setbacks because of a new President in USA.
The urgency of the deal reflects USA eagerness to become a supplier of strategic weapons and equipment to India and be able to replace Russia and France as major suppliers.
While the MQ-9B drone sale is a booster for USA efforts, much of its success can be attributed to the efforts of Dr Vivek Lall, Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation.
He has played a pivotal role in negotiating and securing the sale of these advanced drones to India, marking a historic development in US-India defence relations.
Known for his expertise in defence trade and diplomacy, Dr. Lall has been instrumental in strengthening the defence ties between USA and India. His efforts in securing the MQ-9B deal for the USA have been particularly crucial, ensuring that the Indian Armed Forces purchase this state-of-the-art technology from USA rather than Russia or Israel or France.
His influence extends beyond the drone deal itself. Under his leadership, General Atomics has identified several Indian companies with which it will tie up to play critical roles in maintaining and potentially manufacturing components for these drones.
This move not only underscores the importance of the deal in strengthening USA position as a reliable defence supplier but also win a bigger share of the market in indigenous defence manufacturing sector under the Make in India initiative.
The deal also includes advanced technologies and weaponry that will further enhance the operational effectiveness of the MQ-9B drones.
This package includes 161 Embedded Global Positioning & Inertial Navigation Systems (EGIs), 35 L3 Rio Grande Communications Intelligence Sensor Suites, 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, and 310 GBU-39B/B Laser Small Diameter Bombs (LSDB).
Together, these systems will enable the Indian Armed Forces to conduct precision strikes and gather critical intelligence with unprecedented accuracy.
The MQ-9B drone sale is not just a bilateral transaction; it is a testament to the effort of deepening strategic partnership by USA with India.
During Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to the US, the US President made a significant pitch in defence cooperation, with the drone deal being one of the key outcomes of his bilateral discussions.
This deal, taking place through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, simplifies defence transactions between the two governments and reflects the growing eagerness of the USA to secure such deals with India in the defence sector.
As USA is working to address its security challenges, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, this sale serves as a milestone for USA to become a major supplier to India.
The supply of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones by the US marks a pivotal moment in American sale efforts. With the deal set to enhance the India’s ISR capabilities and strengthen its maritime and territorial security, it is a significant step for the USA too towards maintaining the reliability of USA as weapon supplier to India.
As India continues to modernize its military and strengthen its indigenous strategic capabilities, this drone deal serves as a crucial component of its broader defence strategy, in filling the critical gaps till deployment of indigenous assets.
