The Ministry of Defence on Monday signed a contract with US-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) remotely piloted aircraft systems for the Indian Navy.
The 30-month leasing contract, worth approximately Rs 1,943 crore, was signed at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi in the presence of Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence, A. Anbarasu.
The MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones are equipped with advanced systems, state-of-the-art sensors and sophisticated payloads designed to strengthen the Navy’s Maritime Domain Awareness capabilities. According to the Defence Ministry, the systems will provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) coverage over vast areas of the maritime domain.
The induction of the two remotely piloted aircraft is expected to enhance the Navy’s ability to monitor developments across the Indian Ocean Region and respond more effectively to emerging maritime security challenges. The MQ-9B Sea Guardian is a long-endurance unmanned aerial system designed for sustained surveillance missions over large maritime areas.
