The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Predator drone deal on July 30, and the Defence Ministry is likely to approach the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for the much-anticipated acquisition to be signed in the upcoming month.
While the Defence Ministry is silent on the process, it is learned that the Cost Negotiation Committee (CNC) has locked the final price for acquisition at around USD 3.1 billion from US-based General Atomics. Before getting the final stamp from CCS, the Defence Ministry will approach the Finance Ministry for the expenditure approval. However, the acquisition must be signed before October 31, or the prices will be revised by the manufacturer.
Distribution of Predator drones among Indian security forces
The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is purchasing 1 MQ 9B drones with air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided bombs from General Atomics on a government-to-government basis. The 31 drones will be divided among the three Indian security forces wherein 16 will be provided to the Indian Navy to ensure maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, eight will be with the Indian Army, and the remaining eight will be with the Indian Air Force for tailored strike missions across land borders. The Predator drone has a proven record in the Middle East and Afghanistan with precision bombings and high-value targets.
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India has been operating two units of Sea Guardian, an unarmed version of Predator, on lease from General Atomics. The Sea Guardian is being operated from INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu for maritime domain awareness. The lease of two Sea Guardians drones expired in January 2024, but the Indian Navy extended it for four years as the drone provides real-time awareness from the Sunda Straits in Indonesia to the Suez Canal in the West and South Indian Ocean.
Why is acquisition of armed drones important for India?
The acquisition of armed drones such as the Predator drone has become a priority for India because the neighbouring countries China and Pakistan are operating CH-4 weaponised aerial vehicles, with Beijing selling these to Rawalpindi.
(With inputs from agencies)