India, U.S. conclude $3.5-billion deal for procurement of 31 MQ-9B armed UAVs

• India and the U.S. on Tuesday(October 15, 2024)concluded a $3.5 bn deal for the procurement of 31 MQ-9B armed High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) manufactured by General Atomics through an inter-governmental agreement.

Highlights:

• In a landmark development in defence cooperation, India and the United States finalized a $3.5 billion deal for the procurement of 31 MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) on October 15, 2024.
• This agreement marks a significant advancement in India’s defence capabilities, especially in the domains of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). The MQ-9B deal comes at a time of strengthening military ties between the two nations, enhancing India's self-reliance in defence.

Key Aspects of the Deal:

1. Tri-Service Procurement

• The deal includes the acquisition of 15 Sea Guardians for the Indian Navy and 16 Sky Guardians—eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force. The contract was signed through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, reinforcing India’s defence modernization plans across its three services.
• Sea Guardians: Specifically designed for maritime operations, they will bolster the Navy's ability to monitor the Indian Ocean Region.
• Sky Guardians: These will enhance surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for the Indian Army and Air Force.

2. Advanced Armaments

• The procurement includes an array of sophisticated weaponry, notably:
  • 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles
  • 310 GBU-39B/B laser-guided Small Diameter Bombs (SDB)
  • Other munitions such as training missiles and guided test vehicles
• This combination of UAVs and advanced weapons systems significantly enhances India's strategic offensive and defensive operations.

Strategic Implications

1. Enhanced ISR Capabilities:

• The MQ-9B Sky/Sea Guardians, equipped with advanced surveillance and radar systems, will dramatically improve India’s ISR capabilities. For the Indian Navy, these drones will serve as force multipliers, complementing existing assets like the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. The drones will assist in monitoring vast areas of the Indian Ocean, ensuring better maritime security and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

2. Indigenous Defence Initiatives:

• A notable feature of this deal is its emphasis on Depot Level Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) within India. This will be done through a contract with General Atomics Global India Pvt. Ltd., supporting India’s goal of building a robust domestic defence industry.
• The deal also includes amendments approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) for increased indigenous content, furthering the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in the defence sector.

Context and Future Deals

1. Background:

• India has been operating MQ-9A drones leased from General Atomics since 2020. These drones have been crucial in surveillance missions. However, the controlled ditching of one MQ-9A near Chennai last month due to technical failure highlighted the need for upgraded systems like the MQ-9B, which have advanced satellite communication features for long-endurance missions.

2. Pending Defence Deals:

• This deal is part of a broader push to bolster India’s defence. A key deal pending is the local manufacture of General Electric (GE) F414 jet engines by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), for use in India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A. This reflects a growing trend of technology transfer and co-production between India and the U.S., further strengthening defence ties.

Prelims Takeaways

• Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program
• India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A