$3 billion Predator drone deal: India seeks clarity from US on price, tech transfer
NEW DELHI: India has sought “more clarity” from the US on the price fixation, maintenance and transfer of technology in the proposed $3 billion (around Rs 22,000 crore) deal to acquire 30 armed MQ-9B Predator drones, which are designed for long-range precision strikes against hostile targets on land and sea.
The mega procurement project will be moved for “acceptance of necessity (AoN)” by the Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) once all the clarifications are provided by the US government, said sources on Tuesday.
The Indian armed forces have for long been looking to induct such fighter-sized “hunter-killer” drones, armed with air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs as well as capable of flying for almost 40 hours at a stretch, to boost their long-range unmanned lethal capabilities.
