The State Department has approved the government of India’s request to purchase MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft and associated equipment from the U.S. government under a potential $3.99 billion foreign military sales agreement.
India asked to buy 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft along with embedded GPS navigation systems, Hellfire captive air training missiles, communications intelligence sensor suites and laser small diameter bombs, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Thursday.
Other items include certifiable ground control stations, engines, cryptographic appliques, encryption devices, narrowband and wideband terminals, radio communications devices and radars.
The FMS deal also includes spare and repair parts, technical documentation and publications, training support and engineering and logistics support services.
General Atomics‘ aeronautical systems division will serve as the principal contractor on the proposed deal, which does not require the deployment of additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to India.
DSCA noted that India will use the requested defense equipment to enable unmanned maritime surveillance and reconnaissance patrols.
