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OPINION JUNE 20, 2025 | The Indian Eye 10

India and the MQ-9B

Sky/Sea Guardian Deal

The MQ-9B HALE drone operates at altitudes of over 40,000 feet, has an endurance of

up to 40 hours in continuous flight, and has features such as detect-and-avoid systems

ANIKA VIPULPRIYA

nmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAVs) or drones have rev-
Uolutionized the way wars are
being fought. Over just a few years,
the advancement of Artificial In-
telligence (AI) and automation has
changed the nature of conventional
warfare. In 2020, the US used the
MQ-9 Reaper weaponized drone
with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles to
carry out a targeted decapitation op-
eration for the assassination of Qas-
sem Soleimani in Baghdad with min-
imal collateral damage. Since 2022,
swarm and suicide drones have been
used in the Russia–Ukraine war. This This MQ-9B deal holds significant advantages for the Indian forces to upgrade the effectiveness, efficiency and accuracy of military operations (Agency File photo)
relatively cheap equipment has been
able to neutralize expensive military load include the AGM-114 Hellfire ing, upgrades, and so on), could pose terrorists has also been on the rise.
equipment. In 2024, militant groups missiles and the GBU-39 Small Di- a challenge. India will also be reliant Recent reports which note that an
like Hezbollah penetrated cut- ameter Bombs. It has advanced Sig- on the US OEM (original equipment US MQ 9 drone has been shot down
ting-edge systems such as the Israeli nals Intelligence (SIGINT) systems, manufacturer) for software updates, by the Houthi rebels, shows that this
Iron Dome. Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) tech support and US supply chains. technology is also not fool-proof.
The October 2024 deal with the sensors and Synthetic Aperture Ra- The data systems and core control Better operational advantages,
US for the acquisition of the MQ-9B dar (SAR) for surveillance. algorithms remain proprietary. This though, could accrue from the next
Sky/Sea Guardian Remotely Pilot- This MQ-9B deal holds signifi- can lead to data security concerns, generation MQ-9B drones.
ed Aircraft System (RPAS) by India cant advantages for the Indian forces as sensitive intel and data could be MQ-9B drone procurement is
holds significant implications for the to upgrade the effectiveness, efficien- exposed if transmitted through US- a significant milestone for India’s
country’s Intelligence, Surveillance, cy and accuracy of military operations. linked communication protocols. unmanned combat capability. It will
Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. With its extended surveillance and re- Moreover, integration of the add to India’s network-centric war-
The MQ9-B will allow precision strike connaissance capability, the MQ-9B UAV will require upgradation of fare capabilities. As for indigenous
and real-time intel across diverse offers persistent and long-range sur- communication links and infrastruc- projects, the GHATAK Unmanned
borders, and can be deployed by the veillance and monitoring capabilities. ture. Deliveries are set to begin only Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)
Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The RPAS can facilitate re- in 2029, when threat landscapes is being developed by the DRDO.
The MQ-9B HALE drones are being al-time intelligence sharing with might evolve and technology may The further aim should be to devel-
procured from General Atomics at command centers, and allows seam- become slightly outdated and face op an advanced stealth HALE. As
a price of US$ 4 billion (around Rs less integration of network-centric greater competition. Additionally, illustrated by Operation Sindoor,
32,000 crore). The deal includes 16 warfare systems. It can act as a force the MQ-9Bs have limited stealth ca- an enhanced indigenous drone in-
Sky Guardian variants (8 each for In- multiplier, and can allow for more pability, and thus their survivability frastructure, especially with stealth
dian Army and the Indian Air Force) significant information sharing, in- in contested airspace with advanced technology, will continue to be cru-
and 15 Sea Guardian variants for teroperability and joint training as air defense systems is questionable. cial for maintaining the critical edge
the Indian Navy. The first deliveries it is used by QUAD allies. General While they may be suitable for per- in combat operations.
are scheduled for January 2029 and Atomics plans to establish a glob- missive environments like maritime The full version of this article first ap-
will conclude by September 2030. al MRO (maintenance, repair and zones, their success in deep strike peared in the Comments section of the
The MQ-9B HALE drone oper- overhaul) center in India, to fulfil its missions in anti-access or area denial
ates at altitudes of over 40,000 feet, offset obligations and enable long- environments is susceptible. website (www.idsa.in) of Manohar Par-
rikar Institute for Defence Studies and
has an endurance of up to 40 hours term maintenance of the fleet. Finally, counter-UAS systems Analyses, New Delhi, on June 11, 2025
in continuous flight, and has features The indigenous technological are getting advanced with time, and
such as detect-and-avoid systems, au- lacunae that the deal highlights, laser-based systems, radar tracking, Views expressed are of the author and
tomatic take-off and landing along though, is hard to miss. The cost of ac- radio-frequency jammers, and so on do not necessarily reflect the views of
with encrypted communications and quisition and long-term maintenance pose greater threats. Further, the use the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
secure GPS. Its armament and pay- (spare parts, ground stations, train- of drones by non-state actors and Government of India.

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