In a deal that is almost $4 billion in value, the US has approved the sale of MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones to India. The necessary certification has been delivered by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, alerting the US Congress to the potential sale today.
While on a state visit to the US last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India proposed to buy 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones. The government-to-government agreement marks a significant turning point with the approval of the Biden administration.

Following nearly six years of negotiations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States signaled the completion of the $3.99 billion government-to-government defense deal. The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force will make use of the 31 drones.

The US agency’s clearance coincides with rumors in the media that the US has shelved the agreement due to an alleged Indian national’s abortive attempt to kill India-designated Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The Indian Navy will get 15 SeaGuardian drones and the Army and the Air Force will get eight each of the land version of the drones – SkyGuardian. The MQ-9B is manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical, a private defence firm in the US, but the procurement is part of a government-to-government deal.

The drones, also known as “Predators,” are remotely piloted aircraft systems that are useful for intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and offensive operations all over the world. The term “High Altitude Long Endurance” (HALE) drones refers to the fact that they can travel over the horizon for more than forty hours via satellite. The drone is capable of carrying four laser-guided Hellfire Missiles and 450 kg of bombs.