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Modi in US: What is India-US drone deal? Know all about India’s drone fleet

India is more interested in military drones capable of strikes on enemy targets.

Updated: June 26, 2017 1:35 PM IST

By Vaibhav Tiwari

Modi in US: What is India-US drone deal? Know all about India's drone fleet

New Delhi, June 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump will meet for the first time and engage in a dialogue. Enhancing defence ties is at the top of the agenda of the meeting. Discussion on a number of defence-related topics is expected to take place that includes the Lockheed Martin F-16 deal. Though, no major announcement is likely on the F-16 deal. However, the White House is likely to formally announce the drone deal between the two countries.

What is the drone deal? India is in talks with the United States over buying MQ-9B Guardian unmanned aerial vehicles. These drones can fly at high altitudes and can fly for over 27 hours, which gives them a long range. Their main function is to gather intelligence and for reconnaissance missions. This deal happened after India joined the 34-member Missile Technology Control Regime, which prevents the proliferation of missiles of range over 300km.

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The deal costs $2 billion. Under this, 22 drones capable of only surveillance along with training and spare parts will be made available. Congressional approval is still pending. Long-drawn negotiations will follow and it will take a long time before India gets its hands on the drones. India will be the first non-NATO country to enter such a deal with the United States.

According to the Times of India, India is more interested in military drones capable of strikes on enemy targets. However, the United States is unwilling to hand over India such drones to keep the regional balance intact. (Also read: Modi-Trump meet, working dinner at White House today: Mere ‘let’s-get-acquainted’ or more than that? Here’s what experts say)

What are drones?

Here is what drones do:

  • Drones or UAVs fly without a pilot and gather images and intelligence.
  • Some UAVs can also carry missiles and can attack enemy targets. The United States extensively use UAVs to attack terrorists in Pakistan, Iraq and Syria.
  • Kamikaze drones are like missiles themselves and can be rammed into targets.
  • UAVs don’t need humans to be in them. Hence, they are used to avoid the loss to human lives.

How many UAVs India has?

According to Times of India, India has around 200 UAVs. Many of them are imported from Israel. This includes Israel’s Heron and Searcher-2 drones for surveillance. India also has Israeli Harop killer drones that can explode on targets.

India also has a lot in the pipeline. DRDO is working on building indigenous drones. India and Israel are entering a deal for 10 missile-armed Heron-TP drones.  (Also read: Modi in US: H-1B visa restrictions likely to feature in discussion with Donald Trump)

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