Defence ministry clears 31 US drones' acquisition ahead of PM Modi's trip

The defence ministry has cleared the acquisition of 31 American drones ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US. The MQ 9 drones will be capable of long-range maritime surveillance as well as precision air strikes, adding to a growing inventory of US-origin military equipment with the Indian armed forces.

The acquisition will require the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) before signing as it is valued at close to $3 billion and would be the biggest defence contract inked with the US since 2011, when C 17 Globemaster transport aircraft were acquired for over $4 billion.

Sources said that the Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council gave a go ahead for the deal on Thursday, paving the way for final clearances by the CCS. The navy is expected to get 15 of the drones that will be used for long-range maritime surveillance. The navy already has two of MQ 9s on lease basis from the US. The air force and army are expected to get eight drones each, which are likely to be equipped for long-range precision strikes.

The last movement on the long pending acquisition was in November 2021, when the Defence Procurement Board gave an approval to negotiate the contract. The contract is being pursued from the foreign military sales route and once all clearances are in place, India will then send a formal request to the US government to supply the drones that are made by General Atomics.

The estimated $3 billion deal will make it the most expensive drone ever purchased by India, which has traditionally relied on Israeli technology. Efforts are on to develop indigenous armed drones as well as arming the in-service Israeli UAVs.