India to Buy 30 Predator Drones from US, it is a 22,000 Crore Deal
India is making a deal for 30 Predator drones from the US in order to further strengthen its military capability. The deal will be worth around Rs 22,000 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the CEOs of four top American companies, including the head of the armed drone manufacturer General Atomics, in Washington today. According to the report, PM Modi is going to meet the four CEOs face to face. This includes the CEOs of General Atomics, Qualcomm, Semi-Conductor, BlackRock, First Solar, and Adobe. Apple CEO Tim Cook decided not to attend the meeting at the last minute due to health reasons.
Major decisions likely to be taken in meeting with CEOs
Seeing the list of CEOs with whom PM Modi is going to meet, it is clear that some big decisions can be taken here. On the one hand, while the Prime Minister will meet the CEOs of companies that increase military capability, on the other hand, he is also to meet the heads of the companies working in the energy sector.
Predator Drones Equipped with Guided Bombs and Missiles
India has got approval from the Biden administration to give 30 Predator drones. Out of 30 UAVs, the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force will get 10 each. These Predator drones will be equipped with guided bombs and missiles. These will facilitate many tasks including intelligence missions, surveillance, air support, and rescue operations.
Capable of carrying sensors and laser-guided bombs
Predator drones are equipped with a variety of technical features. The drone comes with 9 hardpoints, capable of carrying sensors and laser-guided warheads, apart from air-to-surface missiles. The UAV operates on a surface of 50,000 feet and lasts for about 27 hours.
Navy operating 2 Predator MQ-9 UAVs
According to the report, India may buy 18 more such drones in the future. These drones will be purchased through US Foreign Military Sales under a government agreement. The Indian Navy is already operating 2 Predator MQ-9 UAVs from the Gulf of Aden to the Lombok Straits in Indonesia.
