The delivery of 31 MQ-9A Sea Guardian and Sky Guardian drones to India by the US government is on hold until GoI conducts an investigation into the alleged plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistan leader based in New York.
Pannun, a dual US and Canadian citizen, faces accusations of terrorism from India. The $3 billion purchase includes 15 Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy and eight Sky Guardian drones each for the Indian Air Force and Army.
The delay is attributed to concerns in the US Congress over the attempted assassination of Pannun and a related federal indictment against an Indian named Nikhil Gupta.
The fallout from these events has frozen legislative progress needed for the sale, with Indian-American lawmakers expressing deep concern.
The Indian Ministry of Defence approved the drone procurement in June 2023, just before Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington.
The US State Department and Indian authorities have not commented on the delayed approvals, while Modi downplayed its impact on Indo-US ties.
The Poseidon aircraft and Sea Guardian drones, part of the proposed deal, enhance the Indian Navy’s capabilities in monitoring the Indian Ocean.
The Sea Guardian drone, with an endurance of over 27 hours, operates at 240 knots, has a ceiling of 50,000 feet, and carries a payload of 1,746 kilograms.
The MQ-9A’s versatility is underscored by its evolving features, including the Extended Range (ER) variant designed for increased endurance and operational flexibility.
