India signs $203 million drone lease deal with General Atomics
NEW DELHI: India said on Monday that it had signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian high-altitude long-endurance drones for the Indian Navy for a period of 30 months at a cost of 19.43 billion rupees ($203 million). The deal will “significantly enhance” the Indian Navy’s maritime domain awareness capabilities and strengthen “ability to monitor…
India has inked a deal worth $203 million with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for leasing two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones to bolster the Indian Navy's maritime domain awareness. The 30-month agreement will enable the Indian Navy to effectively monitor and react to events in the Indian Ocean Region, according to a government statement.
This move follows a previous $19.43 billion lease of two MQ-9A Sea Guardian drones from General Atomics in 2020, which was later extended. In 2024, India also inked a deal with the U.S. State Department to purchase 31 armed MQ-9B Sky Guardian and Sea Guardian drones.
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