India to buy armed drones from US
Expected cost of procurement for the drones is over $4.5 billion
India is close to finalising a multi-billion dollar deal with the United States for the procurement of armed drones and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, reported Indian media. The sale of Sea Guardian armed drones and P-8I antisubmarine warfare and surveillance aircraft – along with the requisite missile and other systems – was approved by President Donald Trump. “Indian Navy, Air Force, and Army are coordinating their requirements and specifications for the acquisition of these Sea Guardian armed drones from the US under the FMS route,” an Indian defence source told the publication. The source further added that a Letter of Request (LoR) will be issued to the US government for the government-to-government deal by February-March next year. The expected cost of procurement for the drones is over $4.5 billion. Another deal, worth $3 billion, is for the procurement of 10 P-8I antisubmarine warfare and longrange surveillance aircraft.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th, 2019.
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