US Approves Sale of 31 MQ-9B Armed Drones With Weapons to India at $ 3.99 billion

Defense News ,India :- In a recent development, the Biden Administration has officially informed the US Congress about its plans to sell arms totaling nearly $4 billion, with a focus on MQ-9B Drones equipped with hellfire missiles. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency, operating under the US Department of Defence, emphasized in a press release on Thursday that this sale aims to strengthen the strategic relationship between the United States and India.

According to the agency's statement, the US State Department has given its approval for a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Indian government, involving MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft and related equipment, estimated at $3.99 billion. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency formally notified Congress of this potential sale, citing the importance of enhancing the security of India, a "major defense partner" contributing to political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.

The proposed sale includes 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian aircraft, 161 Embedded Global Positioning and Inertial Navigation Systems, 35 L3 Rio Grande Communications Intelligence Sensor Suites, 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, 16 M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles, 310 GBU-39B/B Laser Small Diameter Bombs, and eight GBU-39B/B LSDB Guided Test Vehicles with live fuzes.

The Indian response to this development was diplomatically cautious, with the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stating that the matter is within the internal processes of the US, and India respects that. The distribution of the drones indicates that the Indian Navy will receive 15 out of the 31, while the Indian Army and Air Force will each obtain eight high altitude long endurance drones.

Simultaneously, progress on the GE-414 engine deal with the US appears promising, and both the drone and aircraft engine deals are under the purview of the national security advisors of India and the US, Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan, respectively.

The significance of this arms deal is underscored by President Biden's efforts to strengthen defense ties with India, positioning it as a potential ally against the backdrop of regional challenges, particularly from China. The State Department emphasizes that the proposed sale aligns with the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States, enhancing India's capability to address current and future threats through unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in sea lanes.

It's worth noting that this notice to India is not the final decision on the sale, as negotiations could impact prices and unit figures, and lawmakers retain the ability to intervene in the process.