MQ-9B local assembly

[kaykay]

Interesting.

I doubt it will provide any new capabilities that India doesn't already have.

It infact does.

“To put this into perspective, 11 P8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft of the Indian Navy were able to fly 29,000 flight hours in 9 years while 2 MQ9A logged 10,000 flight hours in just 2 years. This is the true measure of a long endurance UAV: Persistent surveillance. Imagine what a fleet of about 10 MQ9Bs could do in exercising constant vigilance,” an observer pointed out. The original proposal envisaged an equal three-way split of the 30 HALE RPAs to be procured amongst the services.

While ISR is its bread and butter, it is the combat capability, over-the-horizon targeting, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, defensive counter-air, airborne early warning and electronic warfare features which give it the edge. It is going to complement our P-8I fleet in a great way and other aid other ELINT and EW fleet to some ways.

 

[kaykay]

Capability of firing hell fires from a UAV is not an emergency requirement for us.

Extensive surveillance systems are.

For armed UAVs, we have 02 projects ongoing. Upgrading of Heron Mk1 and joint production with L&T for Archer (Rustom 1 with munitions).


For carrying big weapons of 250kg class, Heron TP.

Thats true. Our requirements are not for armed predators.

 

[Two banks of the River]

It infact does.

“To put this into perspective, 11 P8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft of the Indian Navy were able to fly 29,000 flight hours in 9 years while 2 MQ9A logged 10,000 flight hours in just 2 years. This is the true measure of a long endurance UAV: Persistent surveillance. Imagine what a fleet of about 10 MQ9Bs could do in exercising constant vigilance,” an observer pointed out. The original proposal envisaged an equal three-way split of the 30 HALE RPAs to be procured amongst the services.

While ISR is its bread and butter, it is the combat capability, over-the-horizon targeting, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, defensive counter-air, airborne early warning and electronic warfare features which give it the edge. It is going to complement our P-8I fleet in a great way and other aid other ELINT and EW fleet to some ways.

The Sea Guardian has an option on removing it's large AESA and add on a Minesweepeing Suite instead.

So this is another avenue which IN might use.

 

[Abid123]

Will probably be deployed to some of India's bases in the Indian Ocean.

 

[kaykay]

The Sea Guardian has an option on removing it's large AESA and add on a Minesweepeing Suite instead.

So this is another avenue which IN might use.

Yes and It has an unique ASW package as well. It will be a great complement to our other ASW assets like P-8I in submarine hunting.

Will probably be deployed to some of India's bases in the Indian Ocean.

Yes Navy ones. Army and Airforce might have different things in mind though.

 

[Skull and Bones]

Is it armed?

Naval variants won’t be armed, they have sonobuoy dispensing pod.

 

[SQ8]

I would still take it - the knowledge base from the MQ-9B local production will supercharge India’s own indigenous programs.

 

[SecularNationalist]

The hurt from the across indicates otherwise. .

Your own people accept your procurement sucks.
And India is quite late in the drone game as compared to other countries.

 

[VkdIndian]

Your own people accept your procurement sucks.

Even I accept it.

And India is quite late in the drone game as compared to other countries

Not really. India inducted first UAVs, Searcher, Heron and also Harpy quite early. In fact first ones came in, in 2001-02. That was a good start.

There are no UCAVs though, except Harpy. Lack of expansion is another area where they should have moved faster.

MQ9 would be a massive leap in this regard. I read somewhere that, Indian higher ups, developed cold feet after initial interest in MQ9 due to high cost. The they were given a demo of its capabilities and they were completely sold out. Must be something really good, that impressed them so much.

 

[kaykay]

Your own people accept your procurement sucks.
And India is quite late in the drone game as compared to other countries.

Not really as we have been using searcher drones and Harpy loitering munitions from late 90s. Even today India has a fleet of 150+ searchers, around 90 herons(being upgraded with weapons under project cheetah), unknown number of Heron-TPs, over 200 Harops and Harpy loitering munitions.

 

[Abdul Rehman Majeed]

100 million each for a drone! my my - No wonder poor countries will remain poor because the west plays this game well.

Indians are being milked.

 

[Farhan Bohra]

Interesting.

I doubt it will provide any new capabilities that India doesn't already have.

We dont have persistent ISR, nor over LoC, neither over LAC.

And this capability is far more important than any of procuring new jets or submarine or aircraft carrier.

 

[Telescopic Sight]

Indians are being milked.

Wow ! What an intelligent , well-articulated comment !!

Now go back to your studies, 10th std. exams are very important.

 

[Da Vin ci]

India should not expect much ToT for such puny order size.