By – Shubhendra Singh Rajawat
As China seeks to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy is expanding its capabilities. After receiving Predator drones, the Navy’s strength will greatly grow.
India has reached an agreement with the United States to purchase 31 Predator drones. The agreement was signed by both sides. An official provided this information. This deal has been the subject of long-term negotiations between the two governments. The contract is worth Rs 32 thousand crores. This will significantly improve India’s striking and surveillance capabilities, from water to surface and sky. This contract was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Defense Affairs only last week. The agreement was signed in the presence of high authorities and military leaders from both nations during a program planned in India.
India’s tracking capability in the Indian Ocean will greatly expand.
India’s defense deal to buy 31 Predator drones was revealed during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States last year. Regarding the significance of this agreement, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that it will greatly expand strategic technological and military collaboration between the two countries. According to defense experts, the procurement of Predator MQ-9B drones will significantly boost the Indian Navy’s observation capacity in the Indian Ocean. The Predator drones will be purchased from General Atomics, an American corporation. This transaction was completed under the Foreign Military Sales treaty between the governments of India and the United States.
The defense deal of India to buy 31 Predator drones was announced during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US last year. Regarding the importance of this deal, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller had said that this deal will significantly increase the strategic technical cooperation and military cooperation between the two countries. According to defense experts, the acquisition of Predator drones MQ-9B will increase the surveillance power of the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean manifold. These Predator drones will be purchased from the American company General Atomics. This deal has been done under the Foreign Military Sales contract between the governments of India and the US.
Predator drones are something remarkable.
The MQ-9B Reaper or Predator drone’s most notable characteristic is its ability to fly for around 40 hours at altitudes over 40,000 feet. This drone is ideal for surveillance and attack, and it can launch precision attacks from the air to the ground. It can fly through satellite for over 40 hours in any weather. Predator drones’ capabilities allow them to be employed in humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, search and rescue, law enforcement, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, airborne mine countermeasures, long-range strategic ISR, over-the-air targeting, and anti-submarine warfare.
The US used this drone to kill Al Zawahiri.
The MQ-B Predator drone is a derivative of the US MQ-9 Reaper drone. In July 2022, the United States murdered Al Qaeda terrorist Ayman al Zawahiri by using a Hellfire missile from a drone. This drone can fly with 450 kg of bombs and the Hellfire missile. General Atomics, the manufacturer of Predator drones, has already secured an arrangement with Indian company Bharat Forge to produce the drone’s parts. In addition, the business plans to establish an MRO hub in India to repair and maintain these drones. In addition, the business will assist India develop its own indigenous combat drones.