Why in News?
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Indian Navy.
Key Highlights
- Two MQ-9B Sea Guardian RPAS will be leased to the Indian Navy.
- The lease period is 30 months.
- The contract is worth approximately ₹1,943 crore.
- The agreement has been signed with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI).
- The drones will strengthen the Navy's Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) capabilities.
- They will provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) over large maritime areas.
- The systems will support India's efforts to monitor developments across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
MQ-9B Sea Guardian
- The MQ-9B Sea Guardian is a High-Altitude Long-Endurance remotely piloted aircraft designed for long-duration surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
- It is equipped with advanced sensors, surveillance systems and specialised payloads, allowing it to monitor large areas for extended periods.
- For the Indian Navy, the aircraft will be particularly useful for keeping watch over India's maritime areas and improving its ability to track activities at sea.