India to buy first armed drones from US to counter China and Pakistan

Name: China reveals details of 2020 border clash with Indian troops after both sides complete pullback
Uploaded: 2021-03-09T23:42:04.000Z
Duration: 2 min 7 s
Description: China reveals details of 2020 border clash with Indian troops after both sides complete pullback

The US$3 billion purchase of 30 MQ-9B Predator units will boost the country’s land and sea defences as tensions in the region persist

The drones India currently has can be used only for surveillance and reconnaissance

Reading Time:2 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

A US Predator drone flies over Kandahar Air Field, southern Afghanistan, in January 2010. Photo: AP

Bloomberg

Published: 7:42am, 10 Mar 2021Updated: 7:41am, 10 Mar 2021

India plans to buy 30 armed drones from the US to boost its sea and land defences as tensions persist with neighbours China and Pakistan, according to officials with knowledge of the matter.

The South Asian nation will approve next month the US$3 billion purchase of 30 MQ-9B Predator drones manufactured by San Diego-based General Atomics, the officials said, asking not to be identified speaking with the media.

The deal would add to India’s military capabilities as the drones it has now can only be used for surveillance and reconnaissance.

India is emerging as a strategic defence partner for the US, particularly in countering Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean and some areas of Southeast Asia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is in the midst of a 10-year, US$250 billion military modernisation.

02:07

China reveals details of 2020 border clash with Indian troops after both sides complete pullback

Spokespeople from India’s Defence Ministry and General Atomics did not respond to requests for comment. Pentagon officials did not respond to a request for comment either.