India's $3.3B Deal with US of 31 MQ-9B Predator Drones

Deal Overview and Financial Details

• Contract worth Rs 28,000 crore ($3.3 billion) for 31 MQ-9B Predator drones
• Additional Rs 4,350 crore ($520 million) for MRO facility in India
• Distribution: 15 Sea Guardians for Navy, 8 Sky Guardians each for Army and Air Force
• Deal includes advanced weaponry: Hellfire missiles and precision-guided bombs
• First drone delivery by January 2029, complete delivery by October 2030
• 21 out of 31 drones to be assembled in India

Technical Specifications and Capabilities

• High-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAVs operating above 40,000 feet
• Flight duration: 30-40 hours without refueling
• Maximum speed: 442 km/h
• Payload capacity: 5,670 kg, including 2,721 kg fuel capacity
• Stealth features: Can fly as low as 250 meters silently
• Armed with Hellfire missiles and GBU-39B precision-guided bombs
• Superior to Chinese drones like Cai Hong-4 and Wing Loong-II

Strategic Importance and Deployment

• Enhanced surveillance capabilities along China border and Indian Ocean Region

Four deployment locations:

• • Arakkonam and Porbandar for Indian Ocean Region
  • Sarsawa and Gorakhpur for land borders
• Roles include maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance
• Significant boost to India's unmanned warfare capabilities
• Real-time situational awareness in maritime domain, day and night
• Automatic take-off and landing capability with civil airspace integration

Additional Agreements and Future Plans

• MRO facility to provide maintenance support for 8 years or 1.5 lakh flying hours
• Performance-based logistics support from General Atomics
• General Atomics to provide expertise to DRDO for indigenous drone development
• Second-largest US defense deal after C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft
• Total US defense deals with India exceed $25 billion since 2007
• No direct technology transfer, but consultancy support for indigenous development