Armed drones, jet engines to take defence ties with US to next level
The already expansive defence relationship between India and the US is set to register a quantum leap during the Modi-Biden summit with the twin pacts on the joint manufacture of GE-F414 fighter jet engines and the sale of armed MQ-9B Predator drones, both a first for a non-military ally of the US.
India’s proposed $3.5 billion acquisition of the 31 drones — 15 Sea Guardians for Navy and eight Sky Guardians each for Army and IAF — will hugely boost its capabilities for long-range ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and strike missions both in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as well as its land borders with China and Pakistan.
