India, US finalise ₹32,000 crore deal for 31 predator drones

India and the US have finalised a Rs 32,000 crore deal for 31 Predator drones to enhance the Indian Army’s surveillance capabilities, Times of India reported.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the acquisition, with 15 drones allocated to the Navy and the rest divided equally between the Army and Air Force. NDTV quoting sources reported that the total cost of the deal is likely to be under $3.5 billion.

A foreign military sales agreement was signed on Tuesday for establishing a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India. US military and corporate representatives are already in India to finalise the deal, with top Indian Defence officials, including the Joint Secretary for Naval Systems, present at the signing ceremony.

The long-term deal, which was discussed at a recent Defence Acquisition Council meeting, includes plans to deploy the drones at strategic locations such as INS Rajali in Chennai, Porbandar and Sarsawa in Gujarat, and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. The acquisition was made based on a thorough analysis of military requirements for all three services.