Defence Minister in US for Acquiring Predator Drones, Missiles and Guided Bombs
STORIES, ANALYSES, EXPERT VIEWS
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has embarked on a four-day visit to the US beginning Aug. 23 to strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. During the visit, Singh would engage in talks with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, focusing on key defence cooperation initiatives, including the procurement of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, joint manufacturing of Stryker infantry combat vehicles, and the co-production of GE F414 engines in India.
The Defence Ministry announced that Singh's visit aims to deepen and broaden the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, in light of the growing momentum in bilateral relations and defence engagements. Officials highlighted the significance of Singh’s meetings, noting that the Indian Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has recently cleared the MQ-9B Predator drone deal with certain amendments, and the Indian Navy’s partnership with HawkEye 360 as part of the QUAD Indo-Pacific Partnership of Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA).
“The visit is expected to further deepen and broaden the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” the Defence Ministry said. Singh will also chair a high-level roundtable meeting with the US defence industry, discussing ongoing and future defence collaborations. Furthermore, he will interact with the Indian community during his visit.
Upon adding amendments to the MQ-9B Predator drone deal, the DAC has crystallized the India-US armed UAV agreement, involving the acquisition of 31 UAVs by India at a cost of $3.9 billion, inclusive of missiles and guided bombs. The amendments pertain to the percentage of indigenization, now set at 30%, and a decision against integrating a DRDO-developed missile onto the Predator due to the high costs demanded by the manufacturer, General Atomics.
Apart from the Predator deal, the Indian Navy’s participation in the IPMDA signifies further defence cooperation between the QUAD nations. Announced in May 2022, the IPMDA aims to ensure transparency in the Indo-Pacific through satellite surveillance provided by HawkEye 360. The company, which operates around 36 satellites, will supply detailed information to QUAD nations on dark shipping, terrorism, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and adversaries' vessels conducting covert surveillance.
The satellites from HawkEye 360 can detect any radio frequency emission from vessels that have turned off their transponders, a tactic often used by pirates and terrorists for covert operations in regions such as the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. The IPMDA is intended to maintain a unified stance among QUAD nations in the Indo-Pacific and to safeguard the freedom of navigation in South-East Asia.
The Indian Navy is expected to establish its tie-up with HawkEye 360 once it receives instructions from the government.Regarding India-US collaboration on GE-414 engine technology transfer, which is crucial for powering the Tejas Mark II aircraft, the project is progressing as scheduled. However, there is a noted delay in the delivery of off-the-shelf GE-404 engines, which are needed for the Tejas Mark IA fighter aircraft. The issue has been raised with US officials, and Singh is expected to underscore the urgency of this requirement during his visit.
During the trip ending Aug. 26, Singh will also exchange notes on the geopolitical dynamics in Asia, including the rise of powers like China and the use of drones by non-state actors for maritime threats following the conflict in Gaza. The Defence Ministry has framed Singh’s discussions in the US as vital steps to bolster the defence ties between India and the US, amid an evolving global strategic landscape.
Singh’s visit to the US coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visits to Poland and war-torn Ukraine, underscoring India’s active engagement in international diplomatic and strategic initiatives.
(Courtesy: Defence.Capital