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India’s MQ-9B Purchase Adds to South Asia’s Drone-Heavy Environment
Bilal Khan
On 15 October, India signed a deal with the U.S. State Department for the purchase of General Atomics MQ-9B high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
Reportedly valued at $3.5 billion USD, the agreement consists of 31 MQ-9Bs split between the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian variants, which will be allocated to the Indian Army (IA), Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy (IN).
According to General Atomics, the MQ-9B has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 5,670 kg, with an internal payload of 363 kg and external payload of 2,155 kg split across nine hardpoints.
Powered by one Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine, the MQ-9B has a range of over 5,000 nautical miles, endurance of 30-plus hours, and flight ceiling of over 40,000 ft.
Both the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian variants can be configured with air-to-surface munitions, sensors – including active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars – and special mission equipment tuned for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare (EW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and other operations.
In regards to the Indian program, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of the MQ-9B in February 2024. It set the total estimated cost of the program at $3.99 billion USD, which would cover 31 MQ-9Bs as well as its required ground support equipment, sensors, and weapons.
Background
On the surface, Turkey could be seen as seeking an alternative to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, a stealth NGFA. Indeed, one could have expected a modernization path centered on the F-35 and F-16V had Turkey remained in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.
After being removed from the JSF, Turkey initiated its own NGFA via the KAAN program. Though it had sought a homegrown fighter since 2016 (when it initiated the TF-X program), leaving the F-35 prompted Turkey to design the TF-X in a particular way – i.e., to produce a large twin-engine fighter that can support a strike role in the future.
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Potential Use
The IN will reportedly receive 15 of the 31 MQ-9Bs, while the IAF and IA are slated to get 8 units each. One can expect both the IAF and the IA to manage operations over land, while the IN will take ownership of maritime drone missions. The MQ-9B is a versatile platform, which will give both the IAF and IN the capacity to carry out long-haul ISR, EW, and intelligence-based operations, like time-sensitive strikes.
The potential IN role could involve a more focused approach, one that builds on its maritime patrol as well as its anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) responsibilities.
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South Asia's Intense Drone Environment
Interestingly, India is following Pakistan in acquiring a HALE UAV, with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) recently inducting Bayraktar Akıncı UAVs from Turkiye’s Baykar Group. The PAF and the Pakistan Army (PA) are both buying a variety of medium altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs from Turkiye, China, and domestic industry players.
The MQ-9B acquisition could push Pakistan to begin procuring HALE UAVs more widely, especially the Pakistan Navy (PN).
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