India Scraps $3 Billion Predator Drone Deal With US: Report

[CrazyZ]

India Scraps $3 Billion Predator Drone Deal With US: Report​

India has called off a $3 billion agreement with American aerospace firm General Atomics to acquire 30 long-endurance Predator drones, The Hindustan Times reported, citing a top government official.
The decision was reportedly triggered by the Predator’s “prohibitive cost” and the country’s move to prioritize indigenous production of unmanned systems under the “Make in India” program.
“As of now, the Predator deal is off,” the official told the Indian English-language newspaper, adding that the US has already been informed of the decision.
In November 2021, The Hindu reported that India was set to finalize a proposal to procure 30 multi-mission armed Predator drones under a multibillion-dollar tri-services contract.
The Indian Navy already has two surveillance Predators on lease from General Atomics being used for reconnaissance on the country’s maritime and land borders with Pakistan and China.

Delays​

Despite its urgent desire to purchase more drones, India’s plan to acquire the Predators ran into delays due to cost and the length of the production process.
New Delhi requested additional details concerning the price and maintenance facilities to be built in India.
“Due to the high procurement cost…the defense ministry wants better insight into the deal under the FMS (foreign military sale), which is slightly opaque,” a source told The Times of India last year.

India Scraps $3B Predator Drone Deal With US: Report

India has called off a $3 billion agreement with American aerospace firm General Atomics to acquire 30 long-endurance Predator drones.

www.thedefensepost.com

 

[Falcon26]

Good move by India. Made in India is the way to go.

 

[CrazyZ]

Good move by India. Made in India is the way to go.

Does India even have and indigenous predator type drone? My guess is that it will try to develop something for the next decade then end up buying something from abroad anyway.

 

[Abdul Rehman Majeed]

Good move by India. Made in India is the way to go.

India has been buying drones from Israel.

This deal cancellation is more to do with the impending CAATSA sanctions.

Does India even have and indigenous predator type drone? My guess is that it will try to develop something for the next decade then end up buying something from abroad anyway.

India proposed this deal to prevent getting sanctioned under CAATSA for their S-400 procurement.

Cancellation of this deal indicates that CAATSA sanctions are now going to be imposed on India.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Indians being Indians

 

[Abdul Rehman Majeed]

Indians being Indians

India and US have been parting ways since India opposed making Quad as a military alliance.

US has replaced Quad with AUKUS.

 

[Flash_Ninja]

Good move by India. Made in India is the way to go.

Cant wait to see it:

Armament from Russia, engine from US, sensors from Israel, and mechanical components from Europe...

All forced together into a frame designed 30 years ago.

 

[CrazyZ]

India has been buying drones from Israel.

This deal cancellation is more to do with the impending CAATSA sanctions.



India proposed this deal to prevent getting sanctioned under CAATSA for their S-400 procurement.

Cancellation of this deal indicates that CAATSA sanctions are now going to be imposed on India.

I think the USA may have allowed the Indians to save face and "cancel" the predator contract so it wouldn't be forced to impose CAATSA sanctions on the deal. India has not gotten a waiver from CAATSA nor does it have a domestic alternative to the predator drone. This announcement is strangely timed.

 

[Chakar The Great]

Lol so India's new buddy, has ditched India as well ?

 

[CrazyZ]

Lol so India's new buddy, has ditched India as well ?

Hopefully flying Samosa's engines are also under threat. Its India's own stupidity and over estimation of its global importance that are putting these things at risk.

 

[kingQamaR]

Steps in Israel with USA nod

 

[Abdul Rehman Majeed]

I think the USA may have allowed the Indians to save face and "cancel" the predator contract so it wouldn't be forced to impose CAATSA sanctions on the deal. India has not gotten a waiver from CAATSA nor does it have a domestic alternative to the predator drone. This announcement is strangely timed.

The proposal was that for every dollar that India spends on the Russian defence and oil deals it would spend equal amount on US deals too. As long as India maintains this balance US would give the CAATSA waiver for that year.

 

[CrazyZ]

The proposal was that for every dollar that India spends on the Russian defence and oil deals it would spend equal amount on US deals too. As long as India maintains this balance US would give the CAATSA waiver for that year.

India has not received a waiver from CAATSA. India can't be non-aligned and in a strategic alliance with the USA at the same time. It will have to chose between Russia and USA.

 

[Abdul Rehman Majeed]

India has not received a waiver from CAATSA. India can't be non-aligned and in a strategic alliance with the USA at the same time. It will have to chose between Russia and USA.

Agree but the fact that this deal has been cancelled indicates that the proposed deal to get yearly CAATSA waiver is unravelling.

Hopefully flying Samosa's engines are also under threat. Its India's own stupidity and over estimation of its global importance that are putting these things at risk.

Not only engines but a lot of US equipment like P-8, M777, Apaches, Chinooks, C-130 that has already been bought will have to be grounded due to lack of service and support.

 

[CrazyZ]

Agree but the fact that this deal has been cancelled indicates that the proposed deal to get yearly CAATSA waiver is unravelling.



Not only engines but a lot of US equipment like P-8, M777, Apaches, Chinooks, C-130 that has already been bought will have to be grounded due to lack of service and support.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is in Europe trying to secure alternative French engines for the Tejas (again very interesting timing ). He got called out during an interview at the Munich Security Conference. European interviewer asked him that since France and UK sent naval forces to the Indo-Pacific to help India against Chinese claims, would India support Europe against Russia claims in Ukraine.....he dodged the question by complaining about China European interviewer implied that India was being hypocritical.