NEW DELHI – Indian defence forces to acquire American armed drones,anti-submarine and surveillance aircrafts worth $7 billion.
New Delhi is close to signing a deal with the US government for thepurchase of armed drones and anti-submarine warfare and surveillanceaircraft, according to a report in *The Times of India*.
The report claims that the deal is valued at over $7 billion, and willinclude the procurement of Sea Guardian drones and P-8I anti-submarinewarfare and surveillance aircraft.
“Indian Navy, Air Force, and Army are coordinating their requirements andspecifications for the acquisition of these Sea Guardian armed drones fromthe US under the FMS route,” sources told TOI.
A letter of request in this regard from the Indian government to the USgovernment will likely be issued early next year after taking thecapability requirements of the three military services into account.
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The US had approved the sale of drones to India earlier this year. Thedrones would loaded with missiles and other weapons that New Delhi wants,according to the Indian publication.
The other major deal in the pipeline is the project for the acquisition ofthe 10 P-8I anti-submarine warfare and long-range surveillance aircraftwhich will add to the existing fleet of 12 such planes in the Indian Navy.
In the last decade, India has inducted a large number of American defencehardware into the military, including Apache attack choppers, Chinookheavy-lift Helicopters, and C-17 Globemaster, among others.
