The US State Department has approved the sale of MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft to India under the foreign military sales program. Reports said that the Joe Biden administration has moved to notify the US Congress about the proposed sale of 31 Sky Guardian drones and related equipment to India for an estimated cost of $3.99 billion.
Officials from both sides have actively engaged in price discussions since the Indian armed forces received clearance from the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) to acquire 31 of these drones in June 2023. The final round of talks is expected to be held soon, and according to reports, the deal could be signed by March of this year.
While the US State Department announced the sale of 31 Sky Guardian drones, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MOD) approved the acquisition of 16 Sky Guardian drones for the Indian Army and Air Force (8 drones each) and 15 Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy last year. It is not clear whether India is acquiring only the Sky Guardian variants or if the acquisition includes 15 Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy.
As part of the deal, India will receive a weapon package that includes 170 Hellfire Missiles, 310 GBU39 laser Small Diameter Bombs, and various other equipment.
According to the reports, 11 drones are set to be directly imported by India, and the remaining drones will be locally assembled with the manufacturing of some major components such as engines, avionics, and sensors under the Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement.
These advanced HALE class drones will significantly enhance the surveillance and strike capabilities of the Indian armed forces.
Sky Guardian and Sea Guardian
The Sky Guardian and Sea Guardian are the latest versions of the MQ-9A Reaper, also known as MQ-9B Predator. The Sea Guardian serves as a naval variant equipped with a long-range maritime radar providing 360-degree coverage and various other improvements. Meanwhile, the Sky Guardian features enhanced capabilities, including improved fuel capacity for over 40+ hours of endurance,improved payload capacity, advanced high-altitude EO/IR sensors, and automatic takeoff and landing capabilities. Notably, the Sky Guardian, with its flexible capabilities, can perform Sea Guardian missions using the dedicated mission kit designed for maritime operations.
MQ9 Reaper: The Hunter Killer
With an impressive track record, these drones are commonly referred to as Hunter Killers. In 2020, the US used an MQ9 drone to assassinate Qasim Suleimani, Iran’s key military General. Similarly, in 2023, Al-Qaeda leader Al Zawahiri was eliminated by this drone. Over the past few years, the CIA, the American Intelligence Agency, has employed MQ9 Reaper drones to assassinate several high-profile individuals posing significant threats to the United States.
Operations in Russia-Ukraine war
American MQ9 Reapers, along with other platforms, are reportedly conducting ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) missions to assist the Ukrainian military in executing high-precision strikes.
Russia has repeatedly claimed to intercept MQ9 and Global Hawk drones with fighter jets, alleging multiple airspace violations over Crimea.
While Ukraine is repeatedly targeting Russian ports in the Black Sea with Storm Shadow missiles, causing significant trouble for the Russian Navy, American aerial platforms are allegedly providing targeting information and high-resolution images to the Ukrainian military to support these attacks.
As Russian Navy warships launch cruise missiles, these drones play a crucial role by providing information on the presence of Russian warships in the Black Sea to Ukraine. They act as early warning platforms, enhancing Ukraine’s preparedness against potential missile attacks.
Conclusion
The acquisition of 31 MQ9B drones will deepen India-US relations.The MQ9 drones, equipped with advanced sensors and weapons, have the potential to significantly enhance the surveillance and strike capabilities of the Indian armed forces in both Northern borders and the Indian Ocean Region. The proven effectiveness in numerous combat operations underscores their capabilities.
