The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Army are planning to jointly deploy MQ-9B US-made Predator drones at air bases in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur and Sarsawa for upgrading their surveillance along the entire China border, spanning from Ladakh in the North to Arunachal Pradesh in the North East, a defence official
“The selection of Gorakhpur and Sarsawa air bases is strategic, given their long runways which are ideal for operating long-range and endurance drones capable of remaining airborne for over 36 hours continuously,” a defence official said.
The drone deal, expected to be worth around USD 4 billion, is being done at the tri-service level with the Indian Navy leading the negotiations with the American side.
Of the 31 drones planned for procurement, 15 will be allocated to the Navy, while the remaining 16 will be evenly divided between the Army and the Air Force. It’s envisaged that each service will deploy eight drones jointly at the designated locations.
Furthermore, efforts are underway to equip these Predator drones with indigenous weapons systems during their assembly in India. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar highlighted the examination of integrating the drones with Indian weapon systems.
With a flight time of over 36 hours at a height of 40,000 feet, these Predator drones can be armed with Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs.
This move comes against the backdrop of India already operating two drones, which were inducted into the Indian Navy in November 2020. These drones played a crucial role during the India-China face-off in the Galwan Valley and other locations in eastern Ladakh.
The potential USD 4 billion deal between India and the US for 31 High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs underscores the growing collaboration between the two nations in enhancing India’s aerial surveillance capabilities, particularly along its northern borders.