India's defence ministry signed a contract with American company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy at a cost of ₹1,943 crore. The lease agreement covers a period of 30 months, and the drones are high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft equipped with advanced sensors and payloads, according to livemint.com.
The Indian Navy already operates two Sea Guardian drones leased a few years ago. The new contract was announced on Monday and formalizes the lease of these remotely piloted aircraft. The drones are designed to enhance maritime surveillance capabilities with state-of-the-art technology, including sophisticated payloads and sensors. The deal was confirmed by the defence ministry, which highlighted the strategic value of the drones for naval operations.
The MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones are part of a broader trend of India enhancing its maritime security through advanced unmanned systems. These drones provide persistent surveillance over vast oceanic areas, which is critical given India's extensive coastline and regional security challenges. The lease deal follows similar acquisitions by other countries seeking to bolster their naval reconnaissance and intelligence capabilities with unmanned aerial vehicles.
The contract with General Atomics for the two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones spans 30 months and is valued at ₹1,943 crore, the defence ministry confirmed. This agreement builds on India's existing operational experience with these drones, aiming to strengthen the Navy's surveillance and reconnaissance missions in the Indian Ocean region.