India signs $3 billion deal to buy MQ-9B Predator drones

NEW DELHI, June 23 (YPA) – The United States and India have concluded an agreement to supply New Delhi with American MQ-9B Predator drones, to be used in patrols over disputed areas with China.

New York City-based Wall Street Journal daily newspaper wrote: “During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, an agreement worth about $3 billion was signed, through which New Delhi will receive about 30 MQ-9B high-flying drones”.

The newspaper added, “Indian officials have stated that some of these drones will be collected and armed in India, and half of them are expected to be transferred to the Indian Navy, while the rest will be used by the Indian Army and Air Force for surveillance.”

It also indicated that before an escalation occurred in the Ladakh region on the Indo-Chinese border in 2020, India used to control the border areas mainly through patrols, but what happened prompted New Delhi to reconsider its approaches to ensuring security.

AA