US sells MQ‑9B SkyGuardian drones to India in £2.9bn deal to tighten military ties
The principal production partner of this deal is General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The comprehensive deal not only includes the MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones but also features AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and small diameter laser bombs. The Defence Express portal, an authority on military matters, suggests that a significant portion of the procured MQ-9B SkyGuardians will be deployed along India's borders with both China and Pakistan.
India purchases MQ-9B SkyGuardian
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a state-of-the-art, unmanned HALE (High Altitude, Long Endurance) aerial vehicle. It is commonly used for tasks that include intelligence-gathering, observation, and reconnaissance. However, one must note that it can also be utilised for strike missions, given its nine arsenal attachment points.
The drone has the capability to execute missions continuously for about 40 hours under any weather conditions, whether it's day or night. The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is approximately 11.5 metres long, with a wingspan that extends up to 24 metres. It has a takeoff weight of around 5,669 kilograms, and it can achieve a maximum speed of approximately 446 km/h.
The US Department of State indicated in a brief message that the drone agreement with India enables "potential development of strategic technology cooperation and military collaboration in that region". The current US administration has been vying for India's favour for quite some time now. Interestingly, their goal is to replace India's current leading weapons supplier, Russia.
India grows militarily closer to the US
Earlier this year, reports by Reuters Agency, citing Indian sources, suggested that India no longer views Russia as an attractive business partner. The ongoing war in Ukraine and Western sanctions have raised concerns about potential delays in the supply of ammunition and spare parts. At the same time, analysts explain that a sudden shift away from Moscow might catalyse Russia’s closer ties with China.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, over the last twenty years, Russia has supplied about 65% of the weapons purchased by the Indian armed forces. The dynamics now seem to be changing. Apart from their local armaments production (such as the Sprut SDM1 light tanks equipped with 125mm calibre guns), India is now looking more towards Western equipment. The United States recently expressed its eagerness to foster stronger ties with India. A notable gesture was their offer to produce Stryker armoured personnel carriers, inclusive of the latest Stryker M-SHORAD variants, for India.
