MQ-9B SEAGUARDIAN ACQUISITION FOR NAVY

GIRISH LINGANNA explains Why India Needs Drone-acharya for a Better ‘Bird’s-Eye View’ from Sky

- GIRISH LINGANNA

During a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (June 15, 2023), the Ministry of Defence reportedly gave its approval for the purchase of US-made MQ-9B Reaper armed drones. Part of the consignment of 31 MQ-9Bs approved for procurement by the DAC will be manufactured in India, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. The Hellfire anti-tank, missile-equipped drones will very certainly be combined with Indian-made missiles and explosives.

In February 2023, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), one of the world’s oldest and largest defence and aerospace manufacturers, and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), a US energy and defence business, stated that HAL would give in-country maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) support to MQ-9B turbo-propeller engines at HAL’s Bengaluru Engine Division. Although late in the day, this was a signal that the final deal, details of which are only just coming to light, was in the offing.

Multiple Indian industries, including Bharat Forge and HAL, are likely to build the drones. Earlier, in January 2023, Bharat Forge and GA-ASI struck a deal to produce MQ-9B drone parts. The collaboration comprised the production of the drone’s primary landing gear components, subassemblies and assemblies. In addition, HAL has agreed to develop an MRO facility alongside during Aero India 2023. HAL will also manufacture and provide maintenance and repair services for TPE 331-5 engines, which power the MQ-9Bs, as well as the ‘Made in India’ HTT-4O trainer aircraft.