New Delhi, August 17: The Indian Navy is set to bolster its maritime surveillance and intelligence capabilities. On Monday, the Ministry of Defence signed a significant agreement with the American company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
Under this agreement, the Indian Navy will lease two MQ-9B SeaGuardian high-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft systems. The arrival of these aircraft will enhance the Navy’s monitoring capabilities in the Indian Ocean region, allowing for comprehensive oversight of the area. The two MQ-9B SeaGuardians will be leased to the Indian Navy for a period of 30 months.
The Ministry of Defence reported that the total value of this agreement is approximately ₹1,943 crores. The MQ-9B SeaGuardian is equipped with advanced systems, modern sensors, and sophisticated payloads. Their deployment is expected to significantly improve the Indian Navy’s maritime situational awareness. A key feature of these aircraft is their ability to provide continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities over vast maritime areas, enabling the Navy to monitor activities in the Indian Ocean region for extended periods.
The agreement with the American company was signed on August 17 at the Ministry of Defence’s Duty Building-2 in New Delhi, in the presence of Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition) A. Anbarasu. According to defense experts, the MQ-9B SeaGuardian is designed to remain airborne for long durations, assisting the Navy in monitoring ship movements, suspicious activities, and other critical events at sea.
The Indian Ocean region is strategically vital for India. Strengthening maritime surveillance capabilities is among the Navy’s top priorities, especially given the increasing maritime activities and security challenges in the area.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the continuous surveillance capability provided by the MQ-9B SeaGuardian will enhance India’s ability to monitor developments in the maritime domain and respond swiftly when necessary. This leasing agreement comes at a time when India is modernizing its maritime security and surveillance systems in the Indian Ocean region. The availability of these two aircraft for 30 months will help the Navy achieve an immediate boost in operational capability.
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