MQ-9Bs To Have Significantly Higher Made-In-India Content As MoD Negotiates Increased Local Sourcing With General Atomics

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is working on negotiating a deal with General Atomics to increase the indigenous content in the MQ-9B Sea and Sky Guardian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

The deal for the acquisition of 31 MQ-9Bs was approved by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) just a week before Prime Minister's Narendra Modi state visit to the United States.

As part of the deal, 15 MQ-9B Sea Guardians will be for the Navy, and eight MQ-9B Sky Guardian each for the Army and the Air Force.

The estimated cost of the deal is expected to exceed $3 billion.

According to a report by ET, the Indian MoD wants to increase the Made-in-India content in the drones from the earlier reported 8 to 9 per cent to 15 to 20 per cent.

"At present, the US company has expressed its willingness to manufacture some components in India that are valued at 8 to 9 per cent of the deal and the efforts are on to increase this commitment to 15-20 per cent in deeper negotiations that are expected in coming months," the report said.

According to the ET report, the LOR is expected to be sent in the first week of July, following which the formal negotiations will start with General Atomics, where the MoD will negotiate to increase the local content in the deal.

General Atomics has in January 2023, signed a partnership with Bharat Forge to manufacture parts of the MQ-9B — like the main landing gear components, sub-assemblies and assemblies — in India.

Additionally, HAL has also entered into another agreement with General Atomics to establish a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in India, on the sidelines of Aero India 2023.

Furthermore, HAL will also manufacture and provide MRO support for TPE 331-5 engines that powers the MQ-9Bs, in India.

Earlier reports from the Hindustan Times have suggested that some of the MQ-9B drones could also be produced in India. The report has also stated that the drones will be integrated with Indian made bombs and missiles.