Stratnews Global learns that the foreign relations committees of the US Senate and the House of Representatives, have given their formal approval for the sale of 31 Predator MQ-9B drones to India. A 30-day process now kicks in leading to the US Defence Department issuing a Letter of Acceptance to India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD).
That LoA in turn opens the door to formal negotiations between General Atomics, which makes the MQ-9B Predator drone, and the MoD. The negotiations will cover the price, configuration and issues like local assembly, technology transfer and so on. In the last few years, India has been insisting that these requirements be fulfilled as part of its Atmanirbhar policy.
The Indian Navy has been operating two Predator drones on lease from General Atomics for some time, and is reportedly satisfied with their performance and availability. The drones have been useful in monitoring pirate activity over the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These can fly as high as 40,000 feet and remain on station for as long as 35 hours. They come in armed and surveillance versions.
