India eyes deals worth $7.5 billion for armed drones, spy planes from the US

In what may come as a big booster for armed forces, India is reportedly moving closer towards deals for procuring American defence equipment worth over USD 7 billion from United States. se include high-tech Sea Guardian armed drones and naval spy planes.  two projects are moving ahe separately as one of m is a tri-services project while or is being steered by Indian Navy.

"All three services are collating ir requirement for Sea Guardian armed drones which will give us a strong capability in terms of high altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles and also enhance our capabilities to carry out surveillance," said government sources aware of development. 

y said a Letter of Request is expected to be issued to US government for government-to-government deal by February-March time frame. This timeframe is with keeping in mind some of capability requirements of three services – Army, Navy and Air Force – would be different from each or and hence ir collation would take a few months.

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Price tag - USD 4.5 billion

Donald Trump ministration h approved sale of armed drones to India in June this year and offered it to be equipped with required missiles and or systems. Earlier, among three services, only Navy seemed to be interested in procurement of such weapons but w all three services are showing interest in project, sources said. project is expected to cost over USD 4.5 billion to armed forces. Once Letter of Request is issued to US government for deal under its Foreign Military Sales route, American side would send Letter of Acceptance in which it will specify terms and conditions for project.

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vanced spy planes

or major deal in pipeline is project for acquisition of 10 P-8I anti-submarine warfare and long-range surveillance aircraft which would be ding to existing fleet of 12 such planes in Indian Navy. Government sources said  project was supposed to be fielded before Defence Acquisition Council in its last meeting but was withheld due to some reasons. "w proposal is expected to be put up before DAC again in next meeting," sources said. P-8I planes are expected to cost around USD 3 billion and would also be acquired under FMS route once it gets final approval from Cabinet Committee on Security heed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  two sides are also in discussions for NASAMS air defence system for providing protection to Delhi NCR.

(With ANI inputs)

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