PM Modi, President Biden to announce mega armed drone deal. 10 facts about MQ-9 'Reaper'
2 min read 22 Jun 2023, 04:05 PM ISTBiden and Modi will also discuss a deal for MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones made by General Atomics, and a new defense pact that will allow American Navy ships to undertake major repairs at Indian shipyards.
PremiumIndia's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joseph Biden are set to announce a big deal on the purchase of General Atomics MQ-9 "Reaper" armed drones by India, the White House has confirmed. PM Modi who is on his maiden state visit to US from 21-24 June, began the second leg of his journey in Washington on Wednesday.
The White House also mentioned that the mega deal would further enhance India's national security and surveillance capabilities not only in the Indian Ocean but also along the frontier with China.
Biden and Modi will discuss a deal for MQ-9 Sea Guardian or Reaper drones made by General Atomics, and a new defense pact that will allow American Navy ships to undertake major repairs at Indian shipyards.
On June 15, India's Ministry of Defence approved the procurement of 30 MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the US under a government-to-government framework. It was reported that the nearly USD 3 billion deal is expected to be announced following talks between Prime Minister Modi and US President Biden in Washington.
The Sea Guardian Predator drones are being procured at a cost of around USD 3 billion to crank up the surveillance apparatus of the armed forces, especially along the frontier with China.
In February, it was reported that India and the US are keen for an early conclusion of the 30 predator armed drones deal at a cost of over USD 3 billion, which will help New Delhi strengthen its overall surveillance apparatus along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Indian Ocean.
Facts about MQ-9 "Reaper" or predator drone
-MQ-9 can carry up to eight laser-guided missiles, specifically the Air-to-Ground Missile-114 Hellfire
-The General Atomics MQ-9 "Reaper" can carry 500 per cent more payload and has nine times the horsepower in comparison to the earlier MQ-1 Predator.
-MQ-9 UAV provides long-endurance, persistent surveillance, and strike capability for the warfighter
-The General Atomics MQ-9 "Reaper" has an endurance of over 27 hours, speeds of 240 KTAS
-The MQ-9 Reaper or ‘predator’ drone can operate up to 50,000 feet, and has a 3,850 pound (1,746 kilogrammes) payload capacity that includes 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilogrammes) of external stores, according to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI).
-MQ-9 "Reaper" is a highly sophisticated drone built on the experience gained with the company's battle-proven Predator RPA and is a major evolutionary leap forward in overall performance and reliability, according to GA-ASI.
-MQ-9 "Reaper" are equipped to perform strike, coordination, and reconnaissance missions, particularly against time-sensitive and high-value targets
-The baseline system of the MQ-9 carries the Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS-B), which integrates various sensors such as infrared, color and monochrome daylight TV cameras, shortwave infrared camera, laser designator, and visual sensors for precise targeting
-MQ-9 can be disassembled and loaded into a single container for deployment, and it can be transported using aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules or larger platforms. This enhances its mobility and flexibility for deployment in various operational theaters
-
(With agency inputs)