India likely to finalise $3.9 billion deal for 31 MQ-9B predator drones with US: Report

The development comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US

India is poised to sign a major defence deal next month for 31 weaponized MQ-9B Predator drones from the United States, according to a report by The Times of India. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has finalised a draft note for approval by the finance ministry, after which the deal will require the final nod from the Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security.

The $3.9 billion deal (over Rs 33,500 crore) is part of a government-to-government agreement with the US. The contract negotiation committee's report has been accepted, clearing the way for the purchase of the drones, which will enhance India’s surveillance and combat capabilities. The development comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US for the fourth in-person Quad Leaders' summit, set to be hosted by President Joe Biden on September 21 in Wilmington, Delaware.

“The contract is expected to be signed by mid-October. Key details such as costing, the establishment of a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in India, and performance-based logistics support have been finalized after intense negotiations,” a source told The Times of India. While there will be no direct transfer of technology (ToT) under this deal, the drones will be assembled in India, with General Atomics, the manufacturer, investing in the country and sourcing over 30% of components from Indian companies.

General Atomics will also collaborate with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and provide expertise to support the development of high-altitude, long-endurance drones indigenously. The contract will see 15 Sea Guardian drones allocated to the Navy and eight Sky Guardians each for the Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The MQ-9B drones, designed to fly for nearly 40 hours at altitudes exceeding 40,000 feet, will come equipped with a range of advanced weaponry, including 170 Hellfire missiles, 310 GBU-39B precision-guided bombs, advanced navigation systems, sensor suites, and mobile ground control systems. India also plans to equip the drones with indigenous weapons in the future, such as the naval short-range anti-ship missiles (NASM-SR) currently being developed by DRDO.

These drones will play a critical role in long-range intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and over-the-horizon targeting missions. They will also be capable of anti-warship and anti-submarine warfare operations, which is becoming increasingly significant given China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Chinese Navy has been expanding its operations, including the deployment of submarines, which pose strategic challenges to India's maritime security.

India expects to begin receiving the first deliveries of fighter-sized drones within the next two to three years. These drones will be stationed at ISR command and control centres in Arakkonam and Porbandar for IOR operations, and Sarsawa and Gorakhpur for the protection of land borders.

China has been systematically deploying survey and research vessels in the IOR, collecting data to enhance its submarine operations, a growing concern for India's security. "Chinese nuclear-powered submarines, which occasionally enter the IOR, are expected to be deployed more regularly shortly," an officer told *TOI*. This drone deal is seen as a key step in strengthening India’s defense capabilities in the region.