Defence ministry inks ₹1.9 cr deal to lease 2 MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones for Navy
The contract is valued at approximately ₹1,943 crore, according to a ministry statement.
The Indian Ministry of Defence has recently inked a contract with US company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems worth ₹1,943 crore to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones. These high-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft systems will augment the Indian Navy's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The two drones will be leased for a period of 30 months and are currently based at naval air station Rajali in Tamil Nadu. The Indian Navy already operates two similar drones leased from the US since 2020. These advanced drones, equipped with cutting-edge sensors and sophisticated payloads, will significantly enhance the Indian Navy's maritime domain awareness.
They will be able to provide persistent ISR coverage over vast areas of the maritime domain, thereby strengthening the country's ability to monitor and respond to developments across the IOR. In 2024, India had signed a $3.5 billion deal with the US to acquire 31 MQ-9B drones to bolster its defence preparedness, primarily with an eye on China. These drones will be shared among the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
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