India seeks clarity from US on $3 bn predator drone deal

26 Aug 2021 CW Team

The media has reported that the massive purchase project would be moved to the Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) for acceptance of necessity (AoN) once the US government provides all answers.

To improve their unmanned lethal long-range capabilities, the Indian armed services have been hunting for fighter-sized hunter-killer drones armed with air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs and capable of flying for nearly 40 hours at a time.

The Army, Navy, and IAF will each get ten MQ-9B or SeaGuardian/SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) with different payloads to hunt and destroy targets over land and sea, according to Medi.

However, the high cost of the government-to-government deal through the US foreign military sales (FMS) programme, which is expected to include the fast-track induction of six of the 30 drones, has caused the final contract to be delayed.

The navy is using two unarmed SeaGuardian drones that it leased from the American drone manufacturer General Atomics last November for long-range surveillance missions over the Indian Ocean Region.

India will issue an actionable LoR (letter of request) to the US government once the DAC approves the AoN for the project. After Washington responds with a letter of offer and acceptance (LoA) and notifies the US Congress, the final contract will be signed.

According to media reports, after a 15% down payment, the remaining instalments will be spread out over five to six years.

The signing of bilateral defence pacts with the United States, particularly COMCASA (Communications, Compatibility, and Security Arrangement) in 2018 and BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Cooperation) in 2020, has allowed India to gain greater access to advanced military technologies via encrypted secure communications and data links.

Image Source

Also read: Indian Air Force gets advanced chaff technology developed by DRDO

Also read: Defence ministry to acquire 11 airport surveillance radars from Mahindra

India has sought clarity from the US on the $3 billion deal to buy 30 armed MQ-9B predator drones, which are designed for long-range precision strikes against hostile targets on land and water. India has inquired about price fixation, maintenance, and technology transfer from the US. The media has reported that the massive purchase project would be moved to the Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) for acceptance of necessity (AoN) once the US government provides all answers. To improve their unmanned lethal long-range capabilities, the Indian armed services have been hunting for fighter-sized hunter-killer drones armed with air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs and capable of flying for nearly 40 hours at a time. The Army, Navy, and IAF will each get ten MQ-9B or SeaGuardian/SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) with different payloads to hunt and destroy targets over land and sea, according to Medi. However, the high cost of the government-to-government deal through the US foreign military sales (FMS) programme, which is expected to include the fast-track induction of six of the 30 drones, has caused the final contract to be delayed. The navy is using two unarmed SeaGuardian drones that it leased from the American drone manufacturer General Atomics last November for long-range surveillance missions over the Indian Ocean Region. India will issue an actionable LoR (letter of request) to the US government once the DAC approves the AoN for the project. After Washington responds with a letter of offer and acceptance (LoA) and notifies the US Congress, the final contract will be signed. According to media reports, after a 15% down payment, the remaining instalments will be spread out over five to six years. The signing of bilateral defence pacts with the United States, particularly COMCASA (Communications, Compatibility, and Security Arrangement) in 2018 and BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Cooperation) in 2020, has allowed India to gain greater access to advanced military technologies via encrypted secure communications and data links. Image Source Also read: Indian Air Force gets advanced chaff technology developed by DRDO Also read: Defence ministry to acquire 11 airport surveillance radars from Mahindra

Infrastructure Urban

06 Nov 2025

Concord Control Systems Limited Reports ~85% YoY Growth in H1 FY26

Concord Control Systems Limited (BSE: CNCRD | 543619), India’s leading manufacturer of embedded electronic systems and critical electronic solutions, announced its unaudited financial results for the half year ended September 30, 2025.Financial Highlights – H1 FY26 (YoY Comparison)Revenue from Operations rose to ₹815.45 million, up from ₹497.53 million in H1 FY25, marking a 63.90% year-on-year growth.EBITDA increased to ₹217.34 million, compared to ₹142 million in the same period last year.EBITDA Margin stood at 26.65%, compared to 28.54% in H1 FY25, with the decline attributed to ..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Nov 2025

Gateway Distriparks Announces Q2 FY25 Results

Gateway Distriparks Limited (GDL), one of India’s leading multimodal logistics providers, announced its financial results for the quarter ended 30 September 2025.For Q2, the company reported total revenue of INR 154.8 crore (H1: INR 316.9 crore), EBITDA of INR 20.56 crore (H1: INR 45.65 crore), PBT of INR –4.23 crore (H1: INR –0.28 crore), and PAT of INR –2.91 crore (H1: INR –0.37 crore). The company stated that these numbers reflect the consolidation of accounts following Snowman Logistics transitioning from an associate company to a subsidiary in December 2024.Commenting on the per..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Nov 2025

Last-Mile Connectivity a Prime Focus, Says Ms. Ashwini Bhide,

The IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IMC) hosted a high-impact Managing Committee session today on the theme “Mumbai Metro: Transforming Connectivity and Commuting.” The session featured an insightful address by Ms. Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL), who shared updates on key transport infrastructure developments across Mumbai and the MMR region.Emphasising the city’s critical economic role, Ms. Bhide noted, “Mumbai is the economic powerhouse of Maharashtra, with more than 95% of the region’s population living in urban areas. As Maharas..