- By Jennifer Prill
- (General Dispatch) – The Indian government intends to conduct negotiations with the US for the purchase of Predator MQ-9B drones for a sum of $3 billion in order to protect its sovereignty.
- The Predator MQ-9 B is an unmanned aerial drone is the first attack UAV designed for long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance manufactured by San Diego-based General Atomics.
- The acquisition of this equipment will help India “better monitor Chinese warships in the southern Indian Ocean and equip the military to attack targets along the disputed India-Pakistan border in the Himalayas,” according to Bloomberg.
- India currently only has drones for surveillance purposes; they are not equipped with weapons, so they have wanted to change the equipment as relations with China have been complicated by the unmarked boundary in the western Himalayas.
- “Last year, India leased two unarmed MQ-9 Predators when border tensions with China threatened to escalate into a full-blown conflict. In the end, they were not deployed after the Air Force expressed apprehension over drones manned by U.S. personnel flying over the border. “ Bloomberg said.
- India is an important ally for the US, along with two other countries (Japan and Australia) conduct coordinated naval drills annually, to demonstrate strength in the face of the CCP’s intended expansionism.
- Also called the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. The Quad, this group of countries attempt to counter China’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region. On the other hand, President Biden expects to meet with the Quad on March 12 to discuss regional and global issues.
Adittional Information:
Breitbart: Report: India Plans First Armed Drone Purchase from U.S. to Counter China
Bloomberg: India to Buy First U.S. Armed Drones to Counter China, Pakistan
