The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is expected to approve the purchase of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from US defense major General Atomics for the Indian Armed Forces on Wednesday. The deal, which will be conducted directly between governments, is expected to cost $3.1 billion.
According to the report, the multibillion-dollar acquisition has been approved by the finance ministry and is now before the CCS following inter-ministerial consultations. The Indian Navy will receive 16 of the 31 drones, with the remaining drones divided equally between the army and air force.
The armed forces will use the drones for a variety of purposes. The army and air force are expected to use them in critical situations to target key infrastructure and high-value assets. Meanwhile, the navy will use these drones to combat illicit shipping and destroy vessels transporting weapons and drugs in the Indo-Pacific. They are also believed to be effective against Chinese spy ships.
Some of these drones will be assembled in India, with 30% of the components coming from Indian manufacturers. However, due to high costs, these drones will not include any DRDO-developed missiles.
The acquisition of these drones comes as India seeks to strengthen its defense capabilities in the face of emerging geopolitical challenges. The Predator drones are expected to be game changers, with long endurance, the ability to fly at high altitudes, and lethal weapons. According to the report, the Predator drones’ surveillance capabilities outperform those of the Boeing P-8I.
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