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New Delhi, India
Predator drones for India: The Indian government on Wednesday (Oct 9) approved the buying of predator drones from the US in a deal worth over $3 billion, according to news wire agency ANI.
The country's Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the acquisition of 31 predator drones, of the MQ-9B series, from the American defence company General Atomics.
Watch: Indian Army Unveils Him-Drone-A-Thon 2: Revolutionising Military Ops In High-Altitude Areas
The purchase, according to the report, will be done via a government-to-government deal valued at $3.1 billion.
The acquisition is mainly driven by the Indian Navy and was given the green light after consultations with various government departments, including the Ministry of Finance.
The Indian Navy will get 16 of the drones, with the rest going to the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, according to the report, which said the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is tight-lipped about the deal.
Also read: Indian Army’s ‘HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2’ to test made-in-India drones at high-altitudes
Some of these drones will be assembled locally with 30 per cent of the components sourced from Indian defence industry firms, it said.
What does the Predator drone deal mean for India?
The predator drones, which can be armed with Hellfire missiles, GBU-39B precision-guided bombs and high-fire rotary cannons, have high endurance in difficult terrain.
They can operate at high altitudes and carry advanced weaponry, with better surveillance capabilities than the P-8I aircraft made by Boeing.
Their acquisition will enhance the maritime surveillance capabilities of the Indian Navy, particularly in strategically significant waters stretching from the Gulf of Aden to the Sunda Straits, according to the HT report.
The Navy plans to use the Predator drones to monitor and counter threats arising from illicit maritime activities, and Chinese surveillance vessels in the Indian Ocean, as per the report.
Also read:India: US-origin MQ-9B drone costing $150mn crashes off Chennai
The drones can potentially be used by the Indian Air Force and Army to strike critical infrastructure and high-value targets too.
The proposed acquisition takes place amid a perceived need to improve India's aerial responses even as China is advancing its drone technologies and supporting India's regional rival Pakistan, the report pointed out.
What are Predator drones?
Developed by US defence firm General Atomics, Predators are a series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by the American military for surveillance and targeted strikes, hence the name 'hunter-killer'.
The drones, launched in the 1990s, and a crucial war machine for the US military.
Their advanced sensors and cameras can give real-time video and intelligence data. Predator drone operators can monitor enemy movements and gather critical information without risking human lives.
Predators can fly at altitudes of up to 25,000 feet for long periods and more importantly, carry precision-guided munitions like Hellfire missiles.
Their high accuracy has allowed for strikes against high-value targets without boots on the ground and minimal collateral damage, but there have been times when civilians have died in Predator strikes.
(With inputs from agencies)