India is acquiring 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian unmanned aircraft systems to enhance the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces. (General Atomics)
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with the US Department of State to procure 31 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9B high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPASs) for the Indian Armed Forces.
The MoD announced the contract on 15 October on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The MoD has previously said that the contract will include acquisition of 15 SeaGuardians for the Indian Navy and 16 SkyGuardians – eight each for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
A separate contract has also been signed with GA-ASI to provide logistics and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services to the Indian Armed Forces for these 31 MQ-9Bs, the MoD added.
India's state-owned DD News reported that the procurement contract is worth INR320 billion (USD3.8 billion).
The MQ-9Bs are expected to be deployed at INS Rajali naval air station in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, INS Sardar Patel Forward Operating Base of the Indian Navy in Porbandar in the western state of Gujarat, and Sarsawa Air Force Station and Gorakhpur Air Force Station in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, DD News said.
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