India-US Mega Defence Deal On The Cards: 30 Armed Predator-B Drones To Bolster Army, Navy As Well As Air Force

In a bid to bolster its tri-services capabilities, India has finalised its plan to procure 30 weaponized Sea Guardian (or Predator-B) drones in a mega defence deal with the United States (US), reports Times of India.

It is expected that all the three services of Indian Armed Forces- army, navy and air force- will be receiving 10 such drones to hunt and decimate the targets on land and sea. The proposal is now being 'vetted' before it is forwarded to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) for approval.

Several rounds of bilateral discussions on the procurement have already taken place and it is expected that it should take another year for the actual contract to be inked. Once the DAC grants its nod, India will issue the 'Letter of Request' to the United States for the government-to-government negotiations to commence.

The Sea Guardian drones also called 'hunter-killer' features advanced ground control stations, launch and recovery elements, air-to-ground missiles, smart bombs and the like which will likely add top the muscle and might of the Indian Armed forces.