New Delhi: The US will soon issue the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) in connection with India’s request for 31 MQ-9 drones for the Navy, Army and the Air Force, ThePrint has learnt.
Sources in the defence and security establishment said the deal, which was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US last June, is on track.
After being cleared by the CCS, India issued a Letter of Request (LoR) to the US government to procure the 31 High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones, which realises the Indian military’s long-standing desire to have unprecedented surveillance and attack capability.
Sources said though the drones are manufactured by private American firm General Atomics, the deal will be through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, which is government-to-government.
The US has already responded to the LoR with regard to technical details and pricing previously discussed. Sources, however, said the US Congress is yet to be formally notified of the deal.
“The US system has multiple processes to be cleared. For example, while this is a defence deal, the lead agency is the State Department. Before issuance of LOA, they have to get clearance from the Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee which takes its own time going through various facets. Once they clear the deal, the State Department formally notifies the Congress,” a source said, explaining the process.
Under the proposed deal, the Indian Navy will get 15 MQ9B drones in maritime and anti-submarine warfare kits, while the Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) will get 8 each of its land version.
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As reported by the Print in September 2021, the three Services had finally agreed to go in for the drone deal after initial differences.
The drone, which has the capability to operate in high altitudes for surveillance and for carrying out punitive action in non-contested airspace, comes with nine hardpoints.
These are capable of carrying sensors and laser-guided bombs besides air-to-ground missiles.
With an endurance of over 27 hours, operating in up to 50,000 feet with 1,746 kg payload capacity that includes 1,361 kg of external stores, the military hopes to increase its offensive capabilities.
It is capable of carrying multiple-mission payloads to include electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), lynx, multi-mode radar, multi-mode maritime surveillance radar, electronic support measures (ESM), laser designators, and various weapons and payload packages.
The Indian Navy currently operates two naval but unarmed versions of these drones procured from the American company on lease.
While India had been eyeing the HALE drones from the US, the country in 2018 offered India the armed version of the Guardian drones, which were originally authorised for sale as unarmed and for surveillance.
The then Trump administration, which had pushed for the deal, expected the announcement of planned procurement to be announced at the two-plus-two ministerial dialogue in New Delhi on 27 October, 2020. India, however, did not succumb to America’s push.
This was because India wanted General Atomics to set up a regional maintenance repair and overhaul facility in India for the drones. Sources said India moved the file to send the LoR only when this particular aspect was finalised.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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