Source : Indian Defence Updates (IDU)
The deal for 18 MQ-9b Reaper/Predator drones will soon be cleared by a panel comprised of representatives from all the three branches of the Indian Armed Forces and as per latest information the Indian Navy will also procure two modular pneumatic dispenser pods that will enable it to detect underwater objects and gather acoustic data and hunt for Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
General Atomics is offering three more modular pods that will interest the Indian Army and Indian Air Force as they are planning to procure a land attack variant to counter a more assertive Chinese stance on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Indian Air Force last year borrowed one of the 2 MQ-9B drones in service of the Indian Navy under 10 year lease, to keep a watch on Chinese activities at LAC and the two leased drones have clocked more than 10,000 flying hours within 2 years of acquiring, proving its mettle in long range surveillance of the Indian Ocean Region, which requires constant vigil, and it is impossible to keep a constant watch at so many choke points around the vast Indian Ocean Region.
