US Sends Letter of Acceptance to India for MQ9 Predator Drone Purchase

Defense News ,India :-  India and the United States are working closely together to improve their defense cooperation. Recently, the Biden administration sent a final letter of acceptance (LOA) to India's Defence Ministry. This letter approves the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from General Atomics, a company in the US. The deal is worth nearly $4 billion and is being done through government channels.

This week, the US government sent the classified LOA to India. Officials from both Washington and Delhi confirmed that the final LOA, including the negotiated price for the drones, was sent to the Defence Ministry on March 11. This dispels earlier reports that suggested the deal was on hold due to concerns related to an alleged plot.

The US State Department initially notified India about the drone deal on February 1. However, the draft LOA remained open for 30 days to allow any objections from US lawmakers. Since there were no objections, the final LOA was sent to India.

Now that India has received the LOA, the Indian Navy, which is leading the acquisition, will examine the details. Then, if the price is acceptable, the deal will be forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval. Under the agreement, the Indian Navy will receive 16 MQ-9B drones, while the Indian Army and Indian Air Force will each get eight. India has opted to buy 31 drones along with various equipment such as missiles, bombs, ground stations, and surveillance tools.

The LOA is a response to India's letter of intent to purchase the drones. In this government-to-government (G-to-G) deal, the supplying government (the US) negotiates the price with the manufacturer.

India's decision to acquire 31 Predator drones comes at a crucial time, especially since the lease of two Sky Guardian drones from the US was about to expire in January. Initially extended until March, a contract was recently signed to extend the lease for another four years, costing around $220-230 million.

Analysts believe that the acquisition of MQ9B drones will have a significant impact on the Indo-Pacific region. These drones will serve as a valuable asset in countering threats, particularly from Chinese Wing Loong II armed drones, which have been supplied to Pakistan by China.

In summary, the acquisition of Predator drones by India, facilitated by the United States, is a testament to the growing defense cooperation between the two nations. This deal not only enhances India's defense capabilities but also strengthens strategic ties between India and the US, particularly in the face of regional security challenges.