The two foundational pacts with the US has paved the way for India to acquire armed drones like Reapers or Predators for long-range precision strikes against hostile targets on land and sea. India signed a BECA with the US on Tuesday and the other one COMCASA was signed in 2018. The Indian armed forces have been pushing for the acquisition of 30 ‘hunter-killer’ weaponized Sea Guardian or MQ-9 Reaper drones, which would cost around $3 billion, with fast-track procurement of six of them amidst the ongoing military confrontation with China, as was first reported by TOI. 'With the legal technology enabling pacts in place with the US, procedural hurdles for the acquisition of these high-altitude, long-endurance armed drones have been cleared. The question now is of money, which is being examined,' said an official.