US State Department Approves Nearly $4 Billion Sale of 31 Armed Drones to India, Reports Reuters

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By Mike Stone and Ismail Shakil

WASHINGTON – The U.S. State Department has authorized the potential sale of 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, along with associated missiles and equipment to India, amounting to nearly $4 billion, the Pentagon announced on Thursday. This decision comes years after discussions regarding the deal began.

India has shown significant interest in purchasing large armed drones from the United States, but various bureaucratic obstacles have hindered progress. Conversations about an armed version date back to 2018, while talks regarding unarmed variants have been ongoing for even longer.

While Thursday’s approval indicates advancements in the negotiation process, it does not guarantee the deal’s finalization. It illustrates the ongoing U.S. efforts to persuade India to reduce its reliance on Russian military equipment.

The State Department’s endorsement suggests that one significant hurdle may have been overcome: the approval from congressional committee leaders in the U.S. Senate. Senator Ben Cardin, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, mentioned he had lifted his hold on the deal after the Biden administration agreed to investigate an assassination plot linked to India that occurred on U.S. soil.

Cardin stated, "The administration has demanded an investigation and accountability regarding the plot in the United States and within India concerning such activities."

In anticipation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington last June, the Biden administration encouraged New Delhi to expedite the process and finalize the agreement.

Currently, India is leasing several MQ-9Bs for intelligence-gathering purposes.

The package encompasses advanced communications and surveillance equipment, 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, and 310 Laser Small Diameter Bombs, designed for precision strikes.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems will serve as the principal contractor for this deal, as reported by the Pentagon. The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency has formally notified Congress about the potential sale.