Context: 

The Ministry of Defence has approved the acquisition of 31 armed MQ-9B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from the US. This Include 15 SeaGuardians for the Indian Navy and 16 SkyGuardians — eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force.

• The procurement is valued at over $3 billion. 

More on News:

• MQ-9Bs will be assembled in India
• As part of this plan, General Atomics will establish a Comprehensive Global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India in support of India’s long-term goals to boost indigenous defence capabilities.

About MQ-9B Drones:

• The MQ-9B drone is a variant of the MQ-9 “Reaper” which was used to launch a modified version of the Hellfire missile that eliminated al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul.
• The MQ-9 and other UAVs are referred to as remotely piloted vehicles/aircraft (RPV/RPA) by the USAF United States Air Force). 
• The aircraft is monitored and controlled by aircrew in the Ground Control Station (GCS) and is popularly called in the US as the first hunter-killer UAV

Key features of MQ-9B:

•  The MQ-9B has two variants — SkyGuardian and its sibling SeaGuardian. 
  • The Indian Navy has been operating the MQ-9B Sea Guardian since 2020.
• MQ-9B Sea Guardian can support land, maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, strike, electronic warfare and expeditionary roles.

Singificacne: 

• Enhanced Maritime Surveillance:
  • SeaGuardian variant designed for maritime missions.
  • Offers surface-search maritime radar, automatic identification system, and sonobuoy monitoring system.
  • Enables persistent anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.
  • Enhances the Indian Navy’s surveillance and maritime security capabilities.
• Cost-Effective Solution:
  • Provides approximately 80% capability of large human-flown maritime patrol aircraft at 20% of its cost per hour.
  • Saves time, costs, and reduces wear and tear on manned platforms.
• Improved Border Surveillance:
  • Provides round-the-clock surveillance capabilities.
  • Monitors movement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
• Seamless Integration with Existing Platforms:
  • Integrates seamlessly with other U.S.-origin platforms operated by India.
  • Enables coordinated operations with platforms like P-8I, AH-64 Apache, and MH-60R multi-role helicopters..

News Source: The Hindu

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