India to upgrade surveillance along LAC with MQ-9B drones; Talks with US in 'advanced stage'

[Zarvan]

India is all set to buy 'Hunter-Killer' predator armed 30 MQ-9B drones. Modi govt is in an "advanced stage" of negotiations with the US for a deal worth $3 billion to crank up its surveillance apparatus along the Line Of Actual Control with China as well as in the Indian Ocean region. Rejecting reports of deal being off the table, the defence establishments said that the talks between New Delhi And Washington are underway for procurement. Remember, a variant of the MQ-9 "Reaper" was used to launch Hellfire missile that eliminated Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri in the heart of Kabul last month. Watch this report to know more.

 

[SIPRA]

India is all set to buy 'Hunter-Killer' predator armed 30 MQ-9B drones. Modi govt is in an "advanced stage" of negotiations with the US for a deal worth $3 billion to crank up its surveillance apparatus along the Line Of Actual Control with China as well as in the Indian Ocean region. Rejecting reports of deal being off the table, the defence establishments said that the talks between New Delhi And Washington are underway for procurement. Remember, a variant of the MQ-9 "Reaper" was used to launch Hellfire missile that eliminated Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri in the heart of Kabul last month. Watch this report to know more.

Concerned Indian and Chinese posters shall be tagged.

 

[Two banks of the River]

Only the Navy's Sea Guardian variant is under serious consideration.

IA and IAF have said that for a long endurance surveillance platform MQ9 is very expensive.

 

[MH.Yang]

I remember Iran once captured MQ-9. Besides India, has any other country purchased MQ-9?

 

[jhungary]

I remember Iran once captured MQ-9. Besides India, has any other country purchased MQ-9?

No MQ-9 were captured by Iranian. You must be thinking of the smaller RQ-170. Also MQ-9 is not some advance tech US cannot lose, in fact, Taliban and Houthi rebel both shot down some MQ-9 before. It's a cheap way than to use F-16 or F-15E to perform a surgical strike.

Beside US. The following country purchased MQ-9

1. Belgium​

2. Dominican Republic​

3. France​

4. Germany​

5. Greece​

6. India​

7. Italy​

8. Netherlands​

9. Spain​

10. United Kingdom​

11. United Arab Emirates​

12. Taiwan​

13. Japan​

14. Morocco​

 

[MH.Yang]

No MQ-9 were captured by Iranian. You must be thinking of the smaller RQ-170. Also MQ-9 is not some advance tech US cannot lose, in fact, Taliban and Houthi rebel both shot down some MQ-9 before. It's a cheap way than to use F-16 or F-15E to perform a surgical strike.

Beside US. The following country purchased MQ-9

1. Belgium​

2. Dominican Republic​

3. France​

4. Germany​

5. Greece​

6. India​

7. Italy​

8. Netherlands​

9. Spain​

10. United Kingdom​

11. United Arab Emirates​

12. Taiwan​

13. Japan​

14. Morocco​

cheap?
30 planes cost 3 billion dollars, but even the Taliban can shoot them down

 

[jhungary]

cheap?
30 planes cost 3 billion dollars, but even the Taliban can shoot them down

3 billion is not just for 30 drones. It comes with training module, control station, spare parts and/or armament and so on.

You don't lose the training module or control station when a drone got shot down.......

A MQ-9 itself unit cost around 15-20 million, still expensive but not at a level of F-15E or F-16 Block 70 expensive...

 

[White privilege]

3 billion is not just for 30 drones. It comes with training module, control station, spare parts and/or armament and so on.

You don't lose the training module or control station when a drone got shot down.......

A MQ-9 itself unit cost around 15-20 million, still expensive but not at a level of F-15E or F-16 Block 70 expensive...

So, $ 600 million out of the 3 Billion dollar price tag for the actual drones, rest for other affiliated stuff. Still an expensive investment if Indians don't order more units.

 

[jhungary]

So, $ 600 million out of the 3 Billion dollar price tag for the actual drones, rest for other affiliated stuff. Still an expensive investment if Indians don't order more units.

Don't know what exactly they ordered on the deal, so I can't comment.

A lot of those will be overhead cost (like sending Indian soldier to US to train with the drone or establish a Maintenace base in India) You don't get to paid twice for those.

ANd if munition is also included in this deal, then the number will creep up fast, considering a single hellfire missile is around 200,000 USD. 500 of those would add 100 million dollars on the deal, and that's probably 10 sorties worth for those 30 drones they brought...

And as with all other Military equipment purchase, of course the more you buy the cheaper is the investment.

 

[retaxis]

India is a big country and should learn how to make its own and replace its own loses in a war. China/Russia/America can replace its own loses but India relies on foreign countries too much

 

[Two banks of the River]

India is a big country and should learn how to make its own and replace its own loses in a war. China/Russia/America can replace its own loses but India relies on foreign countries too much

True that.

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

India is a big country and should learn how to make its own and replace its own loses in a war. China/Russia/America can replace its own loses but India relies on foreign countries too much

India is not a super power to be noted.

We will not going to war or join a war against anyone.

Yes, if the war will break out than whatever the resources, it will get utilised...

We can not fight a war more than 2-3 weeks.

 

[Hephaestus]

India is a big country and should learn how to make its own and replace its own loses in a war. China/Russia/America can replace its own loses but India relies on foreign countries too much

Sad but true.