The United States has welcomed India’s contract with General Atomics to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian systems to the Indian Navy for 30 months….reports Asian Lite News Desk
The United States has welcomed India’s defence contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian systems for the Indian Navy, describing the agreement as a step forward in bilateral defence cooperation and maritime security.
The US Embassy in India said the leased systems would strengthen maritime domain awareness and provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) coverage across the Indian Ocean Region.
“The United States welcomes the Ministry of Defence’s contract with General Atomics for the lease of two MQ-9B Sea Guardian systems to the Indian Navy. This capability will enhance maritime domain awareness and persistent ISR coverage across the Indian Ocean Region, advancing our shared commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. We look forward to continued progress in the US-India defence partnership,” the embassy stated on X.
India’s Ministry of Defence announced on Monday that it had signed the contract with GA-ASI for the lease of two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).
The systems will be leased to the Indian Navy for 30 months under a contract valued at approximately Rs 1,943 crore. The agreement was signed at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi in the presence of Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence, A. Anbarasu.
The MQ-9B Sea Guardian is designed to provide long-endurance surveillance capabilities and can cover large areas of the maritime domain. According to the Defence Ministry, the systems are equipped with advanced systems, sophisticated sensors and state-of-the-art payloads.
“The MQ-9B Sea Guardian HALE RPAS, equipped with advanced systems, state-of-the-art sensors and sophisticated payloads, will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s Maritime Domain Awareness capabilities,” the ministry said.
The induction of the two systems is expected to strengthen the Navy’s ability to maintain sustained surveillance over large stretches of the maritime domain.
The aircraft will provide persistent ISR coverage, allowing the Navy to monitor maritime activity over extended periods and improve its ability to track and assess developments at sea.
“The systems will provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance coverage over vast areas of the maritime domain, strengthening India’s ability to monitor and respond to developments across the Indian Ocean Region,” the ministry added.
The deployment comes as India continues to strengthen its maritime surveillance capabilities across the Indian Ocean Region, where it has sought to improve monitoring of developments at sea and maintain greater awareness of maritime activity.
The US Embassy’s statement also underlined the broader strategic significance of the agreement, linking the enhanced surveillance capability to the shared US-India objective of maintaining a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.
The lease agreement further adds to the expanding defence relationship between India and the United States, with both countries continuing to pursue greater cooperation in areas related to maritime security and defence capabilities.
The MQ-9B Sea Guardian systems are expected to provide the Indian Navy with an additional surveillance capability while supporting its efforts to maintain continuous awareness across wide areas of the maritime domain.
The agreement also reflects the growing focus on technology-enabled surveillance as India seeks to strengthen its ability to monitor developments and respond to emerging situations across the Indian Ocean Region.
The United States has consistently identified India as an important defence and strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific, while India has expanded cooperation with the US across a range of defence and security areas.
The latest contract is expected to contribute to this broader partnership by enhancing the Indian Navy’s maritime surveillance capabilities and supporting greater operational awareness across the region.
