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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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Current Affairs-Date

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PYQ & Syllabus

Current Affairs-Topics

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

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