SOURCE: AFI
India on Tuesday finalized a major defense acquisition with the United States, signing a deal to procure 31 Predator MQ-9B drones from American defense giant General Atomics under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route. The deal, valued at nearly USD 4 billion, aims to bolster India’s military capabilities, particularly along its contested borders with China. The MQ-9B drones, known for their long endurance and precision strike capabilities, are expected to provide critical surveillance and strike options to the Indian military.
However, the announcement sparked debate among Indian defense analysts and industry observers. Many questioned why India opted for these high-cost American drones when it has been working on its indigenous UAV programs like the Archer-NG Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone and the High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAV. Concerns were raised over the suspension of the Archer-NG program, which was being developed at a much lower cost, compared to the hefty price tag of approximately $100 million per unit for the MQ-9B drones.
Defense expert Ranesh Rajan, speaking to idrw.org, pointed out that the Indian government seems to have stalled its own UAV programs, including the Archer-NG and HALE UAV, which were expected to boost India’s drone capabilities at a fraction of the cost. Rajan highlighted that the total cost of the Tapas project, another indigenous UAV initiative, was ?1,786 crore, which translates to roughly USD 215 million. This is significantly lower than the cost of acquiring just two MQ-9B drones.
Rajan emphasized that while the MQ-9B drones are technologically advanced, they are not a game-changer in a large-scale conflict. “Thirty-one UAVs will not change the outcome of a war,” he argued, stating that India could have acquired over 200 indigenous drones for the same budget. Such a move would not only have met operational requirements but also supported India’s defense manufacturing ecosystem and research and development (R&D) capabilities.
The deal’s hefty price tag has led to further scrutiny of India’s defense procurement strategy, particularly regarding the allocation of resources for domestic R&D. Rajan pointed out that the Indian government has struggled to secure sufficient funding for indigenous UAV programs like the Archer-NG and HALE. These projects, if properly funded and developed, could provide India with a robust fleet of drones tailored to its specific military needs at a far lower cost.
Critics argue that relying on foreign platforms like the MQ-9B undermines India’s push for self-reliance in defense technology, a key aspect of the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative. The acquisition of expensive foreign systems, they say, may solve immediate operational challenges but could hinder long-term efforts to develop a homegrown defense industry capable of producing cutting-edge military technologies.
The government’s decision to purchase the MQ-9B drones appears to be driven by immediate operational requirements, particularly given the ongoing tensions along India’s northern borders with China. The drones’ ability to conduct long-range surveillance and precision strikes in difficult terrain is seen as a valuable asset for India’s military. However, the debate underscores the tension between meeting short-term military needs and investing in long-term indigenous capabilities.