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NATION FEBRUARY 09, 2024 | The Indian Eye 6
US notifies Congress for approval of
MQ-9B drone sale to India amid reports
of hurdle caused by Pannun Case
OUR BUREAU
New Delhi/Washington, DC
n a major move for India-US
defense cooperation, the US
Istate department on Thursday
formally notified US Congress of its
approval of the sale to India of 31
MQ-9B Drones and associated mil-
itary equipment worth $3.99 billion.
The move overcame token resistance
from some lawmakers who, accord-
ing to some reports, wanted New
Delhi to carry out a “meaningful in-
vestigation” into the alleged plot to
kill separatist activist Gurpatwant
Singh Pannun before signing off on
the sale.
But a report that some lawmak-
ers, including some Indian-Ameri-
can legislators, had put a hold on the
sale turned out to be exaggerated
after the Defense Security Coop-
eration Agency (DSCA) delivered A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone sits in a hanger (REUTERS Photo)
the required certification notifying
the Congress of the possible sale on
Thursday. have” in what they said is a routine India’s deal with the US of al- rent lease.”
This proposed sale will support process. Illustrative of the fact that most USD 4 billion, paving the way The Biden administration has
the foreign policy and national secu- such legislative hurdles seldom de- for the acquisition of 31 state-of-the- today notified the US Congress
rity objectives of the United States rail the White House’s overarching art MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones, of its intent to sell nearly 4 bil-
by helping to strengthen the US-In- geo-political goals, DSCA said in will not only propel India’s defense lion dollars’ worth of arms, com-
dian strategic relationship and to a statement that the proposed sale capabilities but also ensure a 16-fold prising mainly MQ-9B drones
improve the security of a major de- “will support the foreign policy and increase in the number of aircraft, armed with Hellfire missiles.
fense partner that continues to be an national security objectives of the US significantly enhancing New Delhi’s The defense security coopera-
important force for political stability, by helping to strengthen the US-In- maritime security beyond the current tion agency, which is an agency within
peace, and economic progress in the dian strategic relationship and to im- lease agreement. the US Department of Defense, said
Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions, prove the security of a major defense US State Department spokes- in a press release on Thursday that
the news release said. partner which continues to be an person Matthew Miller shed light the sale helps in strengthening the
The proposed sale will improve important force for political stability, on the recently approved foreign US-Indian Strategic Relationship.
India’s capability to meet current and peace, and economic progress in the military sale of MQ-9B Remotely It added that New Delhi contin-
future threats by enabling unmanned Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.” Piloted Aircraft to India. He said, “I ues to be an “important force for po-
surveillance and reconnaissance pa- The proposed sale of this cannot give a timeline. This was the litical stability, peace, and economic
trols in sea lanes of operation. India equipment and support will not initial step today. Notifying Congress progress in the Indo-Pacific and
has demonstrated a commitment alter the basic military balance in of the exact timeline of the delivery is South Asia region.”
to modernizing its military and will the region. The principal contrac- something that we will explore with “The US State Department has
have no difficulty absorbing these tor will be General Atomics Aero- the government of India over the made a determination approving a
articles and services into its armed nautical Systems, Poway, CA. The coming months.” possible foreign military sale to the
forces, it added. purchaser typically requests off- Highlighting the significance of Government of India of MQ-9B re-
The Defense Security Coopera- sets. Any offset agreement will be the deal, Miller emphasized, “Almost motely piloted aircraft and related
tion Agency delivered the required defined in negotiations between USD 4 billion sale of 31 MQ-9B Sky equipment for an estimated cost of
certification notifying Congress of the purchaser and the contractor. Guardian aircraft will provide India USD 3.99 billion. The Defense Se-
this possible sale today. Implementation of this proposed with enhanced maritime security and curity Cooperation Agency delivered
US officials nevertheless ac- sale will not require the assignment maritime domain awareness capabil- the required certification, notifying
knowledged that members of the of any additional US Government or ity. It offers India outright ownership Congress of this possible sale today,”
Congress were consulted on the sale contractor representatives to India, and a 16-fold increase in the number the Defense Security Cooperation
“to address questions that they might the release concluded. of aircraft as compared to their cur- Agency said in a statement.
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