India and the US signed the contract for procurement of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones on 15 October, 2024.
Key points
- The deal, valued at nearly $4 billion, is aimed at enhancing the combat capabilities of the Indian military, particularly along its disputed borders with China.
- The agreement includes 15 Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy and 16 Sky Guardians for the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF).
- These drones will prove to be a game changer for the nation’s defence forces.
- The MQ-9B Predator is a next-generation remotely piloted aircraft capable of conducting a range of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
- With an operational altitude above 40 thousand feet and a speed of approximately 400 kilometers per hour, the drone can gather intelligence and carry out strike missions, significantly enhancing India’s firepower.
- With a flight time of over 36 hours at heights over 40,000 feet, the Predator drones can be armed with Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs.
- These drones also specialise in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
- The Indian Army and the IAF plan to jointly deploy the Predator drones at air bases in Sarsawa and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
