Insight: How India’s Tri-Service MQ-9B $4 billion deal was awarded
In a Tweet by GA-ASI on 29 July 2021, the SeaGuardian was described as the SkyGuardian’s ‘salty sibling’. (Photo: GA-ASI)
After lengthy negotiations, the Indian Ministry of Defence has now signed a US$4 billion contract with the US Government to procure 31 MQ-9B drones from General Atomics, marking India as the largest customer of this UAV model.
After eight years of negotiations, the Indian MoD announced last week that it had signed a contract worth an estimated $4 billion with the US Government to procure 31 MQ-9Bs MALE UAVs from General Atomics (GA-ASI).
The contract award marked the culmination of lengthy negotiations with the US over acquiring GA-ASI drones, with the Indian Navy first enquiring about the MQ-9A Reaper in 2016. In June 2017, the US offered the Indian Navy 22 units of the then-new MQ-9B SeaGuardian aircraft, the successor of the Reaper. In 2018, the Indian Government expanded the infant programme into a tri-service acquisition, bringing in the Indian Army and Indian
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Daily news round-up email service
- Access to all Decisive Edge email newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Air Warfare
-
![UK MoD “getting a grip” of budgets as three UK air programmes slip into the red]()
UK MoD “getting a grip” of budgets as three UK air programmes slip into the red
The E-7 Wedgetail, Future Combat Air System and the Protector programmes were highlighted as items of concern from a recently published UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority report.
-
![First EPAWSS-equipped F-15E Strike Eagles arrive in the UK]()
First EPAWSS-equipped F-15E Strike Eagles arrive in the UK
The F-15 Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System programme has achieved its first major milestone after 11 years of development, with two jets arriving at RAF Lakenheath.
-
![Lockheed wins $270 million USAF contract for F-22 infrared sensor upgrade]()
Lockheed wins $270 million USAF contract for F-22 infrared sensor upgrade
Tactical Infrared Search and Track (TacIRST) sensors will be installed to boost the fighter’s survivability and lethality.
-
![Lockheed wins $8.7 million contract for Singapore F-16 upgrades]()
Lockheed wins $8.7 million contract for Singapore F-16 upgrades
The contract modification announced by the DSCA, will cover consolidated spares in support of Singapore’s F-16 upgrade programme.
-
![US Air Force pushes back T-7A production to 2026]()
US Air Force pushes back T-7A production to 2026
The US Air Force (USAF) and Boeing have agreed to adjust parts of the T-&A Red Hawk acquisition, with four more test T-7As being acquired to help improve manufacturing readiness and boost testing capacity.
