US-India Drone Deal

US State Department approves potential sale of 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones.

MQ-9B SkyGuardian Drones

• Developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI).
• Next-generation RPAS with over 40 hours of satellite-enabled flight time in all types of weather and safely integrate into civil airspace.
• Equipped with high-definition EO/IR sensor, multi-mode radar, precision-guided munitions, and dual VHF/UHF certified radios and nine hard points for external payloads.
• Wingspan of 79 feet, length of 38 feet, max take-off weight of 12,500 pounds, max speed of 210 knots, and max altitude of 40,000 feet.
• Indian government has requested to buy 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian aircraft, 161 Embedded Global Positioning & Inertial Navigation Systems (EGIs), 35 L3 Rio Grande Communications Intelligence Sensor Suites, 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, 16 M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM), 310 GBU-39B/B Laser Small Diameter Bombs (LSDB), and 8 GBU-39B/B LSDB Guided Test Vehicles (GTVs) with live fuses.
• The other equipment included ground control stations, missile launchers, tactical training rounds, high frequency radios, and radars.

Importance for India:

• Addresses diverse security challenges, including terrorism, territorial disputes, and cyber threats.
• Counters China's naval expansion in the Indian Ocean, bolstering maritime security and will help in surveillance of Chinese spy ships in the Indian Ocean.
• Enhances strategic autonomy with long-range, persistent IS(Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) capabilities which will enable India to monitor and respond to developments in its neighbourhood and beyond.
• The drones will also augment India’s maritime security, as they can conduct surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in the sea lanes of operation, track and target surface and sub-surface vessels, and support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
• The drones will also complement India’s existing and planned platforms, such as the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, the Scorpene submarines, the Vikrant aircraft carrier, and the Rafale fighter jets.

Implications for US-India Partnership:

• The drone deal will deepen and diversify the US-India partnership, which has been elevated to a comprehensive global strategic partnership.
• US grant India major defense partner status, facilitating access to advanced defense technology and equipment, such as MQ-9B drones.
• The deal also indicates the potential for further collaboration between the two countries in the fields of defense industry, innovation, research and development, and co-production and co-development of defense hardware and software.

Contributions to Quad (US-India-Australia-Japan):

• Positive step for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).
• Strengthens coordination on maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber security, and joint military exercises.
• Enhances India's interoperability and coordination with Quad partners.
• The MQ-9B drones will enable India to contribute more effectively to the Quad’s objectives and activities, and to strengthen its interoperability and coordination with its partners.