Current Affairs-Topics

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

The US has signed a contract worth Rs 28,000 crore ($3.3 billion) for 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, with an additional Rs 4,350 crore ($520 million) for an MRO facility in India.

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

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