<p>The Joe Biden administration in the United States (US) has approved the sale of MQ9B Predator drones to India, media reports said on Friday (Mar 15). The approval signalled a major win for the Narendra Modi administration, as the deal underlined the deepening strategic partnership between India and the US, a report by News18 said. The deal sees the acquisition of 31 predator drones.</p>

<p>The deal was originally cleared last month but faced a delay due to objections raised by US senators. However, after the 30-day objection period, the final draft of acceptance was sent to India, the report added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/estonias-foreign-minister-talks-drones-cybersecurity-and-global-trade-in-exclusive-interview-with-wion-693066">Exclusive: Estonia's foreign minister talks drones, cybersecurity, and global trade in interview with WION</a></strong></p>

<p>The US and India were examining various aspects of the deal, including the price component, but the pace of the negotiations slowed down after American federal prosecutors alleged an Indian link in a failed plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.</p>

<p>In November last year, the US federal prosecutors accused Indian national Nikhil Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun, who holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada.</p>

<p>With the sale of drones now approved, India will use them to crank up the surveillance apparatus of the armed forces, especially along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Joe Biden administration in the United States (US) has approved the sale of MQ9B Predator drones to India, media reports said on Friday (Mar 15). The approval signalled a major win for the Narendra Modi administration, as the deal underlined the deepening strategic partnership between India and the US, a report by News18 said.

The Joe Biden administration in the United States (US) has approved the sale of MQ9B Predator drones to India, media reports said on Friday (Mar 15). The approval signalled a major win for the Narendra Modi administration, as the deal underlined the deepening strategic partnership between India and the US, a report by News18 said. The deal sees the acquisition of 31 predator drones. The deal was originally cleared last month but faced a delay due to objections raised by US senators. However, after the 30-day objection period, the final draft of acceptance was sent to India, the report added. Also read | Exclusive: Estonia's foreign minister talks drones, cybersecurity, and global trade in interview with WION The US and India were examining various aspects of the deal, including the price component, but the pace of the negotiations slowed down after American federal prosecutors alleged an Indian link in a failed plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. In November last year, the US federal prosecutors accused Indian national Nikhil Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun, who holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada. With the sale of drones now approved, India will use them to crank up the surveillance apparatus of the armed forces, especially along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. (With inputs from agencies)

US approves sale of MQ9B Predator drones to India: Reports

<p>India is preparing to ensure significant local production and sourcing to arm 31 MQ9B SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian drones. That is, India will mount locally produced arms on drones it's buying from the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a report in the defence portal Livefist, the proposal documents related to the matter suggest that the Indian government’s proposal to the United States includes the specific transfer of a list of 'niche technologies', including the "capability to handle multiple simultaneous flights and handling from ground stations, sense and avoid tech for safe integration of unmanned aircraft in civilian airspace, design and development of a centralised mission intelligence station, multi-sensor data fusion techniques to generating actionable intelligence, sensors and weapons integration on unmanned platforms."</p>

<h2><strong>MQ9B drones to be made in India?</strong></h2>

<p>The Indian government is also planning to push for the local assembly of 21 of the 31 MQ9B drones being sought under a India-US deal between the Biden and Modi administrations respectively, the Livefist report added.</p>

<p>The revelations occur after the Indian National Congress, the principal opposition party, alleged corruption in the India-US deal. Following the political row, several reporters have been getting background details.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/predator-drone-deal-indias-3-billion-deal-with-us-in-advanced-stage-508952">Predator drone deal: India's deal with US in advanced stage</a></strong></p>

<p>India's defence ministry also recently cleared the 'Acceptance of Necessity' stage towards the procurement of 31 MQ9B drones that could cost up to $3.072 billion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian Navy currently operates two SeaGuardian drones on lease. They are reportedly in the third year of their operations and provide the Indian military with a surveillance capability it wants to rapidly expand over sea and land.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Why drone tech in Indo-Pacific is important?</strong></p>

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<p>All of the 31 MQ9B drones being sought by India will be optionally armed with AGM-114 Hellfire or Brimstone munitions, Livefist reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from sourcing these drones, the Indian Navy is already working with ADE and DRDO on TAPAS unmanned flights.</p>

<h2><strong>Who all have these MQ9B drones?</strong></h2>

<p>Only the United States has these drones and the capability&nbsp;to make them. China has been trying to acquire them but so far Beijing has not been able to do so.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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India is preparing to ensure significant local production and sourcing to arm 31 MQ9B SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian drones. That is, India will mount locally produced arms on drones it's buying from the United States.

India is preparing to ensure significant local production and sourcing to arm 31 MQ9B SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian drones. That is, India will mount locally produced arms on drones it's buying from the United States. According to a report in the defence portal Livefist, the proposal documents related to the matter suggest that the Indian government’s proposal to the United States includes the specific transfer of a list of 'niche technologies', including the "capability to handle multiple simultaneous flights and handling from ground stations, sense and avoid tech for safe integration of unmanned aircraft in civilian airspace, design and development of a centralised mission intelligence station, multi-sensor data fusion techniques to generating actionable intelligence, sensors and weapons integration on unmanned platforms." MQ9B drones to be made in India? The Indian government is also planning to push for the local assembly of 21 of the 31 MQ9B drones being sought under a India-US deal between the Biden and Modi administrations respectively, the Livefist report added. The revelations occur after the Indian National Congress, the principal opposition party, alleged corruption in the India-US deal. Following the political row, several reporters have been getting background details. Also read | Predator drone deal: India's deal with US in advanced stage India's defence ministry also recently cleared the 'Acceptance of Necessity' stage towards the procurement of 31 MQ9B drones that could cost up to $3.072 billion. The Indian Navy currently operates two SeaGuardian drones on lease. They are reportedly in the third year of their operations and provide the Indian military with a surveillance capability it wants to rapidly expand over sea and land. Also watch | Why drone tech in Indo-Pacific is important? × All of the 31 MQ9B drones being sought by India will be optionally armed with AGM-114 Hellfire or Brimstone munitions, Livefist reported. Apart from sourcing these drones, the Indian Navy is already working with ADE and DRDO on TAPAS unmanned flights. Who all have these MQ9B drones? Only the United States has these drones and the capability to make them. China has been trying to acquire them but so far Beijing has not been able to do so. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'Make in India' becomes top focus in MQ9B drone deal with the US

From the Russia-Ukraine war to the Indo-Pacific tensions, the MQ9 drones from the US-based manufacturer General Atomics have emerged as one of the most vital aerial assets for the US and its allies. The Indian government recently approved the purchase of 31 General Atomics MQ9B Predator drones. General Atomics CEO Vivek Lall speaks about the importance of drone technology in the Indo-Pacific region.

General Atomics CEO Vivek Lall on US-India ties

From the Russia-Ukraine war to the tensions at Indo-Pacific, US-based manufacturer General Atomics' MQ9 drones have become one of the most valuable aerial assets for the US and its allies. Recently, the Indian government approved the acquisition of 31 MQ9B Predator drones from General Atomics. Voice of America's Jessica Stone spoke with General Atomics CEO Vivek Lall on India-US defence technology cooperation and this drone technology importance in the Indo-Pacific region. Take a look...

Why drone tech in Indo-Pacific is important?