India signs Rs 1,943-cr lease for two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones

India's defence ministry has signed a Rs 1,943 crore contract with US-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy for 30 months, businesstoday.in and Times of India report. The high-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft will boost maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region through persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage.

The lease is a stop-gap arrangement until India takes delivery of 31 MQ-9B drones from General Atomics under a $3.5 billion deal concluded in October 2024. Under that deal, the Times of India reports, India will acquire 15 SeaGuardian variants for the Navy, and eight SkyGuardian variants each for the Army and Air Force, along with advanced munitions and a local maintenance facility.

The MQ-9B Sea Guardian can stay airborne for over 30 hours at altitudes above 40,000 feet and is equipped with 360-degree radar, electro-optical infrared cameras, and optional anti-submarine warfare systems, businesstoday.in notes. The 30-month lease will cover the Navy's immediate operational needs.