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There are still about four more stages to go before pricing for the MQ9B UAV for the Indian Armed Forces to be acquired from the US is finalised. According to senior government sources, whatever price figures are shown in the public domain and which political parties share them, it shows that no negotiations have taken place yet. Also, after negotiations, the full file to acquire the drones will go to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for approval, and after the nod is obtained, things will be closed.
Sources said that among the nearly 10 stages of defense acquisition through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the US government, India is in stage 3 – acquisition of necessity. During the process, the total price was shared by the US for this potential deal, which includes 31 drones along with the required systems and orders, at a staggering $3072 million including systems, weapons, etc., the officials claimed. But they said this was an estimate provided by the United States.
They added that after that, multiple stages will come, the technical committee will evaluate, the approval of the US Congress will be sought, and negotiations will finally take place before the file is transferred to CCS.
On Wednesday, Congress demanded complete transparency in the multi-crore deal, while claiming that MQ9B drones had been purchased at a higher price.
Senior government officials have said that if India does not delay or raise demands for systems to be equipped into drones, the price may come down, but if other tools are needed and there is a delay, the price will go up.
Sources in the government said the MQ9B drones are designed to raise the country’s surveillance capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
No neighboring country has such technology
According to the sources, the MQ9B drones offer the latest technology and will be made available to India at competitive prices. These drones have superior endurance and capacity when compared to the original TAPAS used drones. Once acquired, India will gain the ability to cover the entire Latin American and Caribbean region and gather the details required to enhance surveillance and strategic planning. Notably, neighboring countries, including China, do not possess similar technology.
Sources said that since India is already using two such drones under lease, no trials would be required.
Transparency through FMS
The officials explained that the US government, through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, would oversee the deal and conduct its own checks to ensure compliance with established protocols. The FMS is a government-to-government agreement operated on a “no-win, no-loss” basis by the United States with friendly nations. Other deals were done in the same way in 2009 including Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs, government officials said.
Cost savings by assembling in India
Sources said the government will push for maximum number of drones to be assembled in India as it will bring down the cost.
India is eyeing a large number of these drones, making it the largest such deal.
A maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility will also be constructed to meet future requirements. This facility will ensure that drones continue to operate at their optimum efficiency and minimize downtime.
who bought at what price
According to official US government data, Belgium purchased 4 MQ9B Sky Guardian drones and related equipment at an estimated cost of $600 million, and the UAE purchased the largest number, 18 drones, at a cost of $2900 million. The United Kingdom bought 16 at a price of $1,100 million, and the United States bought five at a price of $547 million. Apart from these countries, Taiwan has also purchased these drones through the same process. On the other hand, officials said that India will buy 31 drones for $3,072 million, at a price of $99 million per plane.
No need to experiment or test
Since India is already using two drones, government officials say there will be no need for a test or trial. These two drones are actually leased from the same company and are operating successfully in different locations. These two drones are highly capable and have a high carrying capacity.
The full LAC will be covered
According to a senior government official, after the delivery of these drones, India will have complete coverage of the Line of Actual Control and Indian forces will be able to cover the entire area for observation. These drones have high endurance and will fly at higher levels, making them untraceable with a larger payload and maximum operational life.
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