India to finalize predator drone deal with US by October 31

The Defence Ministry is preparing to finalize a major deal for Predator drones after the Defence Acquisition Council approved it on July 30. The deal, worth around $3.1 billion, involves purchasing 31 MQ-9B drones from the US-based company General Atomics. These drones will include air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided bombs. The Defence Ministry will soon seek approval from the Finance Ministry for the expenditure before presenting the deal to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval. The acquisition must be completed by October 31 to avoid potential price changes.

Drone details

Out of the 31 drones, 16 will be assigned to the Indian Navy for maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. Eight will be used by the Indian Army, and the remaining eight will be with the Indian Air Force for strike missions along land borders. This purchase will enhance India's capability to perform precision bombing and target high-value assets, a role the Predator drone has successfully fulfilled in conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

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Currently, India operates two unarmed Sea Guardian drones, which are the surveillance version of the Predator, on lease from General Atomics. These drones provide maritime domain awareness from the Sunda Straits to the Suez Canal. Although the lease expired in January 2024, the Indian Navy has extended it for another four years.

The need for armed drones has become more pressing as conflicts involving non-state actors, like the Houthis and Hezbollah, have shown their effectiveness in targeting international shipping and military targets. India’s acquisition of these drones is crucial, especially given China and Pakistan's use of weaponized drones in the region.