US Approves $4B Sale of MQ-9B Drones, Hellfire Missiles to India
The US State Department has approved the potential sale of 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones to India.
The estimated $3.99 billion sale includes 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, 310 GBU-39B/B laser small diameter bombs, and 161 embedded global positioning & inertial navigation systems.
The Indian Navy is expected to field 15 of the drones, while the Army and Air Force will receive eight each.
“The proposed sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats by enabling unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in sea lanes of operation,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated in a press release.
“India has demonstrated a commitment to modernizing its military and will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
