SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s ambitious plan to acquire 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones, commonly known as Predator drones, for nearly $3 billion, has recently seen a significant shift. Initially, there were discussions about integrating Indian-made weapon systems such as the air-launched Helina Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) and the UAV Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM). However, due to the high costs associated with integration and certification, these plans have been deferred, at least for now.
The Indian Army and Air Force were both keen on equipping the MQ-9B drones with Indigenous weapons, which would have bolstered India’s defence self-reliance. However, the costs involved in integrating and certifying these Indian-made systems on the Predator drones were found to be prohibitively high. This includes the costs associated with adapting the drones’ existing architecture to accommodate new weapons and ensuring that these systems meet stringent operational standards.
Given these financial constraints, the decision was made to forgo the integration of Indian weapons for the time being. Instead, India will opt to equip the MQ-9B drones with a range of American-made weaponry that is already in use by the Indian Armed Forces.
In place of the indigenous systems, the MQ-9B drones will be armed with American weapons that are already part of India’s defence inventory. This includes AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles.
While the immediate plans for integrating Indian-made weapons into the MQ-9B drones have been shelved, there remains a possibility that such integration could occur in the future. The Indian Army and Air Force are still interested in incorporating indigenous technologies, but this would likely require collaboration with local defence firms to manage costs and meet certification requirements.
India’s defence establishment recognizes the strategic importance of having indigenously developed weapon systems on key platforms like the MQ-9B drones. Therefore, while the current focus is on deploying drones with existing American systems, future upgrades could see the integration of Indian-made weapons, possibly with local industry support to reduce costs.
NOTE : Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes. Websites doing illegal reproductions will get DMCA and Legal Notices.