Two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones leased for Indian Navy at ₹1,943 crore for 30 months
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India to lease two Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy
India has leased two MQ-9B Sea Guardian remotely piloted aircraft systems for the Indian Navy at a cost of ₹1,943 crore for a 30-month period. These drones are equipped with advanced sensors, systems, and payloads, significantly enhancing maritime surveillance and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region. The lease addresses immediate operational requirements while the long-term procurement of 31 MQ-9B drones (15 Sea Guardian for Navy, 8 Sky Guardian each for Army and Air Force) under a government-to-government deal with the US progresses. This development underscores India's focus on bolstering maritime domain awareness amid growing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.
Source: The Hindu. This summary and analysis are AI-written from that report and are not individually fact-checked — confirm names, dates and figures with the source before you rely on them.
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Exam-ready takeaways
Drones equipped with advanced sensors, systems, and payloads for maritime surveillance and ISR
Lease serves as interim measure while procurement of 31 MQ-9B drones (15 Navy, 8 Army, 8 IAF) under G2G deal with US is finalized
MQ-9B manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), USA
Enhances India's maritime domain awareness in Indian Ocean Region amid Indo-Pacific strategic dynamics
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