US Predator drones to be deployed across borders with China, Pakistan

India will deploy the 31 Predator drones to carry out surveillance across three major hubs across the country, including borders with China and Pakistan and the vast maritime zone. The plans to procure General Atomics MQ-9 "Reaper" armed drones were announced during PM Modi's visit to the US. 

News agency ANI reported senior defence officials as saying that India plans to deploy these drones in three major hubs across the country. One of the hubs will be in the North or Northwestern region, while another will be in the northeastern region, from where they would cover the entire region. Another major hub will be created at INS Rajali, from where the Indian forces are already operating two predator drones since the initial phase of the standoff with China in 2020-21.

The Predator drones are currently being operated by representatives of General Atomics, but Indian pilots from the three services will be trained for this role in India and US and the drones will be operated by the three services jointly. The armed drones will also operate from bases which enable the launching and landing of unmanned aerial vehicles.

A senior official quoted by news agency ANI earlier said, "The decision to buy 31 (Predator or Reaper) drones for taking care of complete surveillance requirements was taken after a scientific assessment."

"The Predator drones would be operated by a joint tri-services command, which will include officers and men from all three services. The tri-services headquarters also sent the proposal in this regard to the defence acquisition council,"

The deal to acquire MQ-9 “Reaper” drones under a government-to-government framework was approved the  Defence Ministry On June 15.

The MQ-9 can carry up to eight laser-guided missiles, specifically the Air-to-Ground Missile-114 Hellfire carry 500 per cent more payload and has nine times the horsepower in comparison to the earlier MQ-1 Predator. The MQ-9 "Reaper" is equipped to perform strike, coordination, and reconnaissance missions, particularly against time-sensitive and high-value targets.

(With inputs from agencies)