Biden Administration Approves $3.99 Billion Sale of 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian Drones to Strengthen India's Maritime Security

President Joe Biden's administration approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones to India on February 1. These drones, produced by General Atomics in the United States, come with an expected cost of approximately $3.99 billion. The collaboration with India is emphasized by the United States as significant, asserting that the sale is intended to enhance the country's maritime security.

The recent approval of the sale involves 31 MQ-9B armed drones to India, costing an estimated $3.99 billion. This acquisition is seen as a move to strengthen India's capability to address current and future threats through unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in sea lanes of operation.

New Delhi's decision to purchase MQ-9B high-altitude and long-endurance armed drones from General Atomics was announced during the meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington DC on June 21 and 22 last year.

Under the agreement, India is set to receive 31 High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs. The Navy will receive 15 SeaGuardian drones, while the Army and the Indian Air Force will each obtain eight of the land version – SkyGuardian.

The deal provides India with outright ownership, resulting in a 16-fold increase in the number of aircraft compared to their current lease of two MQ-9A aircraft.

The comprehensive package for the 31 MQ-9B drones includes 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, 16 M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles, and 310 GBU-39B/B Laser Small Diameter Bombs (LSDB).

India's procurement of these long-endurance 'hunter-killer' drones aims to boost the surveillance capabilities of the armed forces, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.