India to buy 31 MQ9 Reaper from General Atomics !

In a significant development, India has successfully secured a deal to acquire 31 MQ-9 Reaper drones from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a prominent US-based company. The procurement of these advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is being facilitated through government-to-government channels and the Foreign Military Sales route, with an estimated cost of approximately US$ 3 billion.

This deal is being seen as a key highlight of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States.

The joint statement released at the conclusion of discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden in Washington DC acknowledges and applauds India's intention to procure General Atomics MQ-9B High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) UAVs. These state-of-the-art drones will be assembled within India.

Viewers may note that in November 2020, the Indian Navy began operating two leased MQ-9B SeaGuardians, which is the naval variant. The lease agreement was valid for one year and has been extended subsequently.
Its effectiveness convinced India to go for this deal.