31 MQ-9B Drones India-U.S Deal

Source : The Hindu
GS III : Science and Technology; GS II : International Relation

Overview

1. About the Deal
2. 31 MQ-9B Drones

Why in News ?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden announced the mega deal on the purchase of General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper armed drones by India.

About the Deal

• The ministry has merely approved the acquisition of 31 MQ 9B HALE drones on the basis of need; no meaningful discussions have yet started.
• Challenge
  • These drones are currently only available in the United States and China has been attempting to buy it, but has been unsuccessful.
  • These drones will provide India additional capabilities once they are acquired
  • The nation’s opponents are concerned and may attempt to thwart the purchase process.
• Procedure
  • A letter of request to the Biden administration and obtaining a letter of offer and acceptance from the US government are the following steps in the procedure.
  • The US government will issue this letter upon US Congress approval.
  • The Contract Negotiation Committee (CNS) will then complete the provisions of the contract before submitting it for Cabinet Committee for Security (CCS) approval.
  • The full cost and conditions of the deal won’t be disclosed until that point.
• Requirement
  • A scientific analysis of India’s demands and requirements, taking into account its geographic and marine surroundings, led Integrated Defence Services to suggest the purchase of 31 drones for the three Services.
• Technology Transfer (ToT)
  • There will be some technology transfer (ToT) involved in the procurement.
  • New Delhi is aiming for a ToT of at least 15% to 20%.
  • More negotiations will take place, and the government will obtain certain crucial technology.
• Impact on TAPAS
  • As the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) is creating Tapas, a drone in the MALE category, procurement is not in opposition to Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
  • With ADE and DRDO, the Indian Navy is already collaborating on TAPAS, a technology that may be used for unmanned flight development in the civilian sector.

31 MQ-9B Drones

• The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper has an endurance of more than 27 hours, can fly up to 50,000 feet at 240 KTAS, and can carry a payload of 1,746 kilogrammes.
• Compared to the older MQ-1 Predator, it can carry five times as much weight and has nine times as much power.
• It is intended to fly above the horizon by satellite for up to forty hours, depending on configuration, in all kinds of weather.
• The SkyGuardian and the SeaGuardian are the two versions of the MQ-9B.
• For the Indian Navy, there are 15 SeaGuardians, and the Indian Army and Air Force each have eight SkyGuardians.

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