India to Acquire Guardian Drones from U.S.

By siliconindia | Monday, 12 September 2016, 06:26 Hrs

BENGALURU: The U.S. is likely to give its nod to India’s request for state-of-the art Guardian drones for maritime surveillance, especially in the Indian Ocean. The move reaffirms the fact that India is seen as a big defense market for the US, after India was designated a major defense partner of the US in June.

The Indian Navy had sent an official letter of request (LoR) to the US Department of Defense for purchasing 22 unarmed high-tech Predator Guardian drones for maritime surveillance in the Indian Ocean. This is the first major request for arms by India after Washington designated New Delhi as a major Strategic Defense partner. The US government has not made a formal decision on it yet, but is believed to have given the nod.

Recently, India was designated a 'major defense partner' of the US, and this could have played a crucial role in the decision, reports TOI. Even though the US government is yet to make a formal declaration, it is believed that they have initiated the process regarding the sale of Guardian drones.

According to sources, the administration believes that a deal of such proportions would help in “strengthening India US defense relationship”, thus bringing “a new level of comfort” between the two militaries.

Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter have been in touch on the sale of predator Guardian UAV to take care of India’s maritime surveillance requirements. This process could well be done and dusted before Obama vacates his office in January 2017.