In a significant step towards acquiring 31 MQ-9B armed High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), the Indian Defence Ministry is set to issue a Letter of Request (LoR) to the United States by the first week of July. This will initiate the procurement process through the US government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Indian officials are currently engaged in discussions to increase the indigenous content and sourcing within the deal.

Currently, the proposed indigenous content in the MQ-9B deal stands at 8-9%. However, Indian authorities are keen on raising this percentage to 15-20%. Talks are underway with General Atomics, the manufacturer, who has expressed a positive outlook on the matter. The final decision will be subject to agreement from the US government.

As part of the MQ-9B deal, discussions are ongoing regarding the manufacture of certain components, electronics, sensors, and avionics in India. This presents an opportunity to expand domestic manufacturing capabilities. General Atomics is actively engaging with various Indian companies to foster collaboration in line with the deal's requirements.

The joint statement issued after the talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden highlighted that the MQ-9Bs would be assembled in India. This move aims to enhance India's armed forces' Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities across multiple domains. The joint statement further stated that General Atomics would establish a comprehensive global Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India, aligning with India's long-term goals of strengthening indigenous defense capabilities.

The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, recently granted Acceptance of Necessity (AN) for the procurement of 31 MQ-9Bs, with allocations for the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Following the LoR submission, a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) will be issued, leading to commercial negotiations with General Atomics. The US administration is expected to notify the US Congress of the potential sale. The final steps involve approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security and the subsequent conclusion of the contract.

The MQ-9B armed UAVs are highly valued for their cost-effectiveness, offering approximately 80% of the capabilities of large manned maritime patrol aircraft at a fraction of the cost per hour. The Indian Navy, particularly interested in these UAVs, aims to significantly enhance its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities across the vast Indo-Pacific region.

General Atomics, the manufacturer, has expressed its satisfaction with the decision to acquire MQ-9Bs for the Indian armed forces, considering it a breakthrough moment for the strategic and defense partnership between India and the United States. The Indian Navy has already been operating two MQ-9As on lease from General Atomics since November 2020, accumulating an impressive 10,000 flight hours over two years and covering a vast operational area of over 14 million square miles.

During Aero India in February, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and General Atomics announced their collaboration to develop a comprehensive engine Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) program to support HALE UAVs in the Indian market.