India leases 2 MQ-9B jets from US firm under Rs 1,943 crore pact

The Indian government on Monday signed a contract with US-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) for leasing of two MQ-9B aircraft for Indian Navy at approximately Rs 1,943 crore.

The Defence Ministry announced the pact for two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Indian Navy for a period of 30 months.

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The pact was signed in the presence of Additional Secretary & Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence, A. Anbarasu, at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi.

The MQ-9B Sea Guardian HALE RPAS is equipped with advanced systems, state-of-the-art sensors and sophisticated payloads. The aircraft is said to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s Maritime Domain Awareness capabilities.

"The systems will provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance coverage over vast areas of the maritime domain, strengthening India’s ability to monitor and respond to developments across the Indian Ocean Region," the ministry said in a release.