India signs $203 million drone lease deal with General Atomics
- The deal comes at a time when India and China are engaged in a strategic tussle for influence in the Indian Ocean region
NEW DELHI: India said on Monday that it had signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian high-altitude long-endurance drones for the Indian Navy for a period of 30 months at a cost of 19.43 billion rupees ($203 million).
The deal will “significantly enhance” the Indian Navy’s maritime domain awareness capabilities and strengthen “ability to monitor and respond to developments across the Indian Ocean Region”, the government said in a statement.
The deal comes at a time when India and China are engaged in a strategic tussle for influence in the Indian Ocean region.
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In 2020, the Indian Navy leased two MQ-9A Sea Guardian drones from General Atomics for a period of one year, which was subsequently extended.
India has long expressed interest in buying large, armed drones from the U.S.
In 2024, New Delhi signed a deal with the U.S. State Department to buy 31 armed MQ-9B Sky Guardian and Sea Guardian high-altitude long-endurance drones.