US likely to make sale of Guardian drones to India: Officials

[PARIKRAMA]

And its MQ-9B,Maritime version of Reaper,not baseline Predator.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/new-maritime-capability-developed-for-mq-9-417133/

Thats for guardian version customization only

http://www.ga-asi.com/predator-b

http://www.ga-asi.com/certifiable-predator-b

Notice the stores 9 external stores for 40 hour endurance. 40 hour endurance is a requirement from Indian Navy. and now in 2016 its ER version is available.

In case say we dont get ER version still we will use the store points to carry external Fuel tanks

 

[f444ran]

Wouldn't selling armed version of drone violate international law?

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Wouldn't selling armed version of drone violate international law?

While in the past, Washington has shied away from offering its armed Predator drones that have considerable combat experience in Afghanistan and Pakistan, India is hoping that its entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in June would make a difference.

ET has learnt that an earlier attempt by India to acquire the drones could not proceed as the US referred to international regulations that made it impossible to export the armed Predator. An unarmed, reconnaissance version of the Predator is already on offer for an Indian Navy requirement.

However, a tough road will lie ahead on acquiring the cutting edge armed drones from the US, including India's current reluctance to sign two military pacts - the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) - that Washington considers essential.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...-entry-into-the-mtcr/articleshow/53880886.cms

 

[wiseone2]

While in the past, Washington has shied away from offering its armed Predator drones that have considerable combat experience in Afghanistan and Pakistan, India is hoping that its entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in June would make a difference.

ET has learnt that an earlier attempt by India to acquire the drones could not proceed as the US referred to international regulations that made it impossible to export the armed Predator. An unarmed, reconnaissance version of the Predator is already on offer for an Indian Navy requirement.

However, a tough road will lie ahead on acquiring the cutting edge armed drones from the US, including India's current reluctance to sign two military pacts - the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) - that Washington considers essential.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...-entry-into-the-mtcr/articleshow/53880886.cms

what is hard to make an unarmed drone into an armed one ?

 

[PARIKRAMA]

what is hard to make an unarmed drone into an armed one ?

Presence of weapons packages. like Hellfire Air to Ground Missiles, GBU different munitions, etc.
Secondly is the permission of using not just for surveillance but for attack/strike missions as well.

 

[GuardianRED]

Presence of weapons packages. like Hellfire Air to Ground Missiles, GBU different munitions, etc.
Secondly is the permission of using not just for surveillance but for attack/strike missions as well.

So the Guardian will be armed with these?

 

[f444ran]

While in the past, Washington has shied away from offering its armed Predator drones that have considerable combat experience in Afghanistan and Pakistan, India is hoping that its entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in June would make a difference.

ET has learnt that an earlier attempt by India to acquire the drones could not proceed as the US referred to international regulations that made it impossible to export the armed Predator. An unarmed, reconnaissance version of the Predator is already on offer for an Indian Navy requirement.

However, a tough road will lie ahead on acquiring the cutting edge armed drones from the US, including India's current reluctance to sign two military pacts - the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) - that Washington considers essential.

Thanks. Gotta watch how hard we negotiate now