India inks $4 billion deal with the US to procure 31 Predator drones

TO BOLSTER BORDER SURVEILLANCE

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NEW DELHI: In a landmark defence agreement, India signed a $4 billion deal on Tuesday to procure 31 Predator long-endurance drones from US-based defence manufacturer General Atomics. The acquisition, finalised under the foreign military sales route, is aimed at significantly enhancing India's military surveillance and combat capabilities, particularly along the contested borders with China, officials said.

The deal was signed by senior defence and strategic officials in the national capital, marking a notable boost in defence ties between India and the United States. The procurement of these advanced drones comes just weeks ahead of the upcoming US presidential elections, underscoring the strategic importance of Indo-US military cooperation.