India-US ties: Govt eyes $8-bn defence deal for 100 Avenger Predator drones

High-speed Avenger can perform wide-area surveillance, time-sensitive strike missions over land and sea

Setting the stage for high-value defence purchases, India is reportedly buying 100 jet-propelled Avenger predator drones from the United States (US) costing an estimated $8 billion for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The high-speed Avenger is a long-endurance, medium-to-high-altitude Remotely Piloted Aircraft system that can perform wide-area surveillance and time-sensitive strike missions over both land and sea.

Compared with the current Predator-series aircraft, the aircraft has a much higher operational and transit speeds, resulting in rapid repositioning for improved mission flexibility and survivability.

In her first major agreement with foreign officials, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will meet US counterparts on September 26 and stress on defence cooperation between the two countries, reported Financial Express.

Launched in 2012, the bilateral Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), besides undertaking projects, will also focus on maritime security and counterterrorism, the business daily added.

As reported earlier, American lawmakers drafted a law backing India-US defence ties. The Senate’s draft of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, an annual law that allocates funding to America’s military, includes an amendment aimed at advancing defence cooperation between the US and India. (Read more) 

Pak expresses concern over US selling drones to India

Pakistan, around two weeks back, expressed concern over the sale of 22 Guardian drones to India by the US and said it would result in a strategic imbalance in the region. 

Earlier, the government struck a deal with Washington to purchase Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial Systems for the Indian Navy. Over the preceding decade, the US has become India’s biggest defence supplier with $15 billion in sales of C-17 Globemaster III and C-130J Super Hercules transporters, P-8I Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift choppers and AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.