India tightens American ties with Reaper and fighter engine procurements
India is now looking to procure 31 MQ-9B Reapers from the US, but a deal has still not been inked. (Photo: US Embassy in India)
India has been mulling Reapers for years, and it will probably take another two years before a deal is sealed.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit to the US, starting 21 June, resulted in a bonanza of large-ticket defence sales to India. They included General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-9B MALE UAVs and the domestic manufacture of General Electric F414 engines.
India’s 15 June acceptance of necessity had consented procurement of 31 armed MQ-9B UAVs. Worth up to $3.072 billion, this is the largest order by a foreign country to GA-ASI.
The deal, once signed, will comprise 15 SeaGuardians for the Indian Navy and eight SkyGuardians each for the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, to be assembled
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition]()
New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition
The US$234 million award for 16 Sikorsky UH-60Ms preserves near-term production, but funding uncertainty and an undefinitised contract leave the US Army’s long-term Black Hawk requirements unresolved.
-
![V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal]()
V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal
Bell Boeing will supply 73 additional ODSSHI kits as NAVAIR prepares to introduce predictive drive-system monitoring across US and Japanese V-22 fleets.
-
![AFA 2026: US Air Force examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics]()
AFA 2026: US Air Force examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics
The US Air Force is evaluating demonstrators for uncrewed cargo missions as it considers logistics requirements across the Pacific and other contested environments.
-
![Germany air focus: Europe’s leading near-term air market targets domestic industry]()
Germany air focus: Europe’s leading near-term air market targets domestic industry
Between 2026 and 2032, almost a quarter of EU aircraft spending is expected to come from Germany. While crewed programmes seek modernisation and replacement, uncrewed opportunities look to introduce entirely new capabilities, with both highlighting sovereignty and domestic production.
-
![Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad]()
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
