India To Sign $3 Billion Defense Deal With US Firm

NEW DELHI (ANI) – As part of the $3.1 billion 31 MQ-9B Predator drone deal between India and the US, the American side is proposing to provide consultancy to Indian entities for developing an indigenous advanced unmanned aerial vehicle.

India and the US have been holding discussions for the drone deal for the last few years, under which the three services will get 31 drones, with the Navy getting 15 birds and the Air Force and Army and Air Force getting eight each.

Sources said that the consultancy is expected to cut down the time taken for the development of a highly advanced drone by a significant margin.

The MQ-9B drones are planned to be deployed at four places, including INS Rajaji near Chennai and Porbandar in Gujarat, by the Indian Navy, while the other two services will keep them jointly at two bases in Sarsawa and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh at Air Force bases due to long runway requirements.

The American firm involved in the government-to-government deal is General Atomics, whose officials held discussions with the Indian side in the last few weeks in this regard, sources said.