MQ – 9B drones

MQ – 9B drones

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Defence

Context:

• India is set to acquire 31 MQ-9B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from the United States.
• The agreement is projected to be finalised by February 2024, and deliveries are scheduled to commence in February 2027, marking a three-year gap after the contract is signed.

About MQ-9B Predator Drone:

• The MQ-9B drone is a variant of the MQ-9 “Reaper”, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations.
• These are high-altitude long-endurance drones armed with strike missiles which can take out enemy targets with high accuracy.
• It was developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF).
• The MQ-9B has two variants — SkyGuardian and its sibling SeaGuardian.
• The Indian Navy has been operating the MQ-9B Sea Guardian since 2020.

Features of MQ-9B SeaGuardian :

• It can carry up to 5,670 kg and has a fuel capacity of 2,721 kg.
• The drone can operate at over 40,000 feet.
• The Predator also has a maximum endurance of 40 hours, making it useful for long-hour surveillance.
• It can support land, maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, strike, electronic warfare and expeditionary roles.
• It is also capable of automatic take-offs and landings.
• It can safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the maritime domain day or night.

Key Developments

1. Deal Status and Timeline

• The MQ-9B UAV deal is progressing as planned.
• The Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) from the U.S. government is awaited.
• The contract is anticipated to be finalised by February 2024.

2. UAV Maker’s Commitment

• The UAV manufacturer, General Atomics (GA), is in the process of setting up a worldwide facility for maintenance, repair, and overhaul within India.
• The exact location for the facility is yet to be determined, but Bengaluru is a likely choice.

3. Clearance and Costs

• In June, India’s Defense Ministry approved the procurement of 31 MQ-9B UAVs from GA, valued at an estimated cost of $3,072 million.
• The procurement consists of 15 Sea Guardians designated for the Navy, as well as eight Sky Guardians allocated to both the Army and the Air Force.

4. Procurement Process

• The Letter of Request (LoR) was issued to the U.S. government just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with U.S. President Joe Biden at the G-20 summit.
• The LoR serves as the basis for finalising the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), specifying equipment and procurement terms in line with the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

5. Approval and Conclusion

• The U.S. administration is required to inform the U.S. Congress about the sale.
• The deal will then need approval from the Indian government’s Cabinet Committee on Security before the contract can be concluded.