The Agency announced on Thursday that it has submitted the necessary certification to Congress for the potential sale.
According to the Agency, this proposed sale aligns with the foreign policy and national security goals of the United States. It aims to enhance the strategic relationship between the US and India while fortifying the security of India, a significant defense partner crucial for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.
The sale is expected to boost India’s capabilities in addressing present and future threats by facilitating unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in sea lanes of operation.
India’s procurement of long-endurance drones is particularly focused on strengthening the surveillance capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
As part of the deal, India is set to receive 31 High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs. The Navy will obtain 15 SeaGuardian drones, while the Army and Indian Air Force will each receive eight of the land version, known as SkyGuardian.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) praised India for its commitment to modernizing its military, expressing confidence that the country will seamlessly integrate these assets and services into its armed forces.
The DSCA emphasized that the proposed sale will not disrupt the military balance in the region and will have no adverse impact on US defense readiness.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems will be the principal contractor for this procurement.
Earlier in the week, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighted the importance of Congressional involvement in the US arms transfer process. He mentioned ongoing consultations with members of Congress on foreign affairs committees before the formal notification.
Miller responded to questions regarding the timeline for US Congressional approval and addressed media reports suggesting that Washington had delayed the drone sale to India pending a thorough investigation into an Indian connection to an alleged plot against Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Negotiations between American and Indian officials have been ongoing following Washington’s response to New Delhi’s Letter of Request for the acquisition of drones from General Atomics. The proposed procurement was a topic of discussion during talks between US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi last November.
The Defense Acquisition Council, led by Singh, had given initial approval for the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B drones from the US under the foreign military sale route on June 15 of the previous year.
The SeaGuardian drones, designed for all three services, can fulfill various roles, including maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and over-the-horizon targeting. These High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones boast over 35 hours of airborne capability and can carry four Hellfire missiles and approximately 450 kgs of bombs.
In 2020, the Indian Navy had leased two MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones from General Atomics for one year, extending the lease subsequently, for surveillance activities in the Indian Ocean.
