India Plans to Acquire 31 Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

• 26 Jun 2023

Recently, after talks between the U.S. President and the Indian Prime Minister, a joint statement highlighted India's plans to acquire 31 armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

The Key Highlights

• Procurement of Armed UAVs: The agreement entails the procurement of 31 armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). This includes 15 SeaGuardians for the Indian Navy and 16 SkyGuardians, with eight each designated for the Indian Army and Air Force respectively.
• This acquisition will significantly enhance India's defense capabilities and strengthen its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities across different domains.
• Comprehensive Global Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Facility: General Atomics, the manufacturer of the UAVs, will establish a comprehensive MRO facility in India.
• This facility will support India's long-term goal of boosting indigenous defense capabilities and promote self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
• Procurement Process and Cost Negotiation: The procurement process has commenced, and the deal will be executed through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route of the U.S. government.
• The exact cost of the procurement is yet to be finalized and will be subject to negotiation. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) will compare the acquisition cost with the best price offered by General Atomics to other countries.
• Increased Indigenous Content: India aims to increase the indigenous content of the deal. Currently proposed at 8-9%, India hopes to raise it to 15-20%.
• General Atomics is positive about this, and discussions are underway to include Indian companies for domestic manufacture of components.
• This could potentially expand to include manufacturing electronics, sensors, and avionics.
• Strengthening Strategic Partnership: The joint statement underscores the commitment of both nations to strengthen their strategic partnership and enhance bilateral defense cooperation.
• It reflects the mutual trust and shared interests in addressing regional security challenges. The agreement signifies the growing defense ties between the United States and India.