The Ministry of Defence has signed a Rs 1,943 crore-worth contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for the leasing of two MQ-9Bs for the Indian Navy for a period of 30 months.
The MQ-9Bs are Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) that are equipped with advanced systems, state-of-the-art sensors, and sophisticated payloads. Their availability will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s Maritime Domain Awareness capabilities, the Defence Ministry said in a release.
"The systems will provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage over vast areas of the maritime domain, strengthening India’s ability to monitor and respond to developments across the Indian Ocean Region," the statement read.
With the SeaGuardian mission kit, MQ-9Bs can be used for airborne mine counter measures, anti-submarine warfare, long-range strategic Intelligence Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), and over-the-horizon targeting, claim the manufacturers.
They come with automatic takeoff and landing capability, multi-mode 360° maritime surface search radar and an all-weather capable, including de-ice / anti-ice system and lightning protection capability.
As per the official brochure, each MQ-9B has a wingspan of 79 feet (24 metres) and is 38 feet (11.6 metres) long. It is powered by a Honeywell TPE331-10 Turboprop engine and has a maximum gross take-off weight of 12,500 lb (5,670 kg). With a fuel capacity of 6,000 lb (2,722 kg), these UAVs can carry a payload of 800 lb (363 kg) internally and 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) externally. Of these, eight are wing-mounted and one is on the centreline. It has a primary power capacity of 45 kVA and backup power of 2 kW.
Indian Navy and MQ-9B Sea Guardians
In terms of maximum performance, the aircraft can operate at an altitude of up to 40,000 feet (12,192 metres). It has an endurance of 40 hours, meaning it can remain in the air for up to 40 hours, and has an airspeed of 210 knots. Its range is 6,000 nautical miles.
This is not the first time that the UAVs have been leased by India. The Navy had leased two MQ-9B unarmed drones since November 2020 for surveillance. In 2023, the Defence Ministry had agreed to buy 31 drones made by General Atomics worth slightly over $3 billion. The delivery of these drones, armed with Hellfire missiles, GBU-39B precision-guided glide bombs, and other weapons, will begin in 2029. It was reported that New Delhi would be basing the drones at four possible locations including INS Rajali near Chennai, Porbandar in Gujarat, Sarsawa and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
