India’s Defence Ministry Approves Armed Drones Deal With US

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has granted approval for the purchase of armed Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from General Atomics, a US-based defense manufacturer.

This agreement is anticipated to be announced before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s impending official visit to the United States.

The fate of the deal now rests in the hands of the Cabinet Committee on Security, as the final approval is still pending.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, convened on Thursday morning (15 June).

According to sources, a long-awaited deal for High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs was approved during a recent meeting, marking one of the most significant agendas discussed.

The procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is expected to reach approximately 26 units. The Navy is expected to receive a larger portion of the UAVs compared to the Army and Air Force.

The deal is estimated to be valued between $2.5 billion to $3 billion. In a recent development, it has been announced that the deal will encompass the Maintenance, Overhaul, and Repair (MRO) of the platforms.

The deal for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has been revised. The initial agreement was for 30 drones, with 10 allocated to each of the three services.

However, the Navy’s urgent need for these vehicles has resulted in a change in the allocation, with the Navy now set to receive the highest number of drones.

The Indian Navy is set to boost its maritime surveillance capabilities over the Indian Ocean Region with the introduction of HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) platforms.

This move will also help to alleviate the workload on the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft.According to reports, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar had stated in December of last year that the case was still ongoing.

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Discussions are underway regarding the rationalization or maintenance of numbers, according to sources.

The individual in question had reportedly shared this information. In 2020, the Indian Navy leased two MQ-9As and has recently announced that the lease has been extended.