The Indian Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹1,943 crore contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the lease of two MQ-9B Sea Guardian remotely piloted aircraft for the Indian Navy, strengthening India's maritime surveillance and intelligence capabilities.

The 30-month lease agreement adds to the Navy's existing fleet of two Sea Guardian drones, which were previously taken on lease. The latest agreement comes as India continues preparations for the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B drones from the United States under a separate procurement programme valued at nearly US$4 billion.

Two MQ-9B Sea Guardians for the Indian Navy

Under the newly signed agreement, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems will provide two MQ-9B Sea Guardian remotely piloted aircraft for a period of 30 months.

The Ministry of Defence said the contract is valued at approximately ₹1,943 crore. The aircraft are equipped with advanced systems, sensors and specialised payloads designed for extended maritime operations.

The MQ-9B Sea Guardian is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft capable of remaining airborne for more than 35 hours. The platform can perform a range of missions including maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and over-the-horizon targeting.

The aircraft can also carry weapons and other mission payloads, with the reported configuration capable of carrying four Hellfire missiles and approximately 450 kilograms of bombs.

Strengthening Maritime Domain Awareness

A key objective of the lease is to enhance the Indian Navy's Maritime Domain Awareness capabilities.

The Sea Guardians are designed to provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance coverage over large maritime areas. This capability is particularly relevant to India's monitoring requirements across the Indian Ocean Region, where sustained surveillance of maritime activity is an important part of naval operations.

The addition of two aircraft will expand the Navy's existing operational capability as India moves towards a larger long-term MQ-9B fleet.

Part of a Larger MQ-9B Programme

The new lease agreement is separate from India's larger procurement programme for 31 MQ-9B drones.

In October 2024, India finalised a deal with the United States to procure 31 long-endurance drones from General Atomics through the Foreign Military Sales route. The procurement, valued at nearly US$4 billion, is intended to strengthen the surveillance and operational capabilities of India's armed forces.

While the broader programme covers MQ-9B platforms for India's military services, the latest contract specifically provides two Sea Guardian aircraft to the Indian Navy on lease.

Growing Role of Unmanned Systems

Long-endurance unmanned aircraft are becoming an increasingly important part of maritime surveillance, allowing naval forces to maintain persistent monitoring over large areas.

For India, the additional Sea Guardians will provide another layer of surveillance capability as the country continues to strengthen maritime security across the Indian Ocean Region.

The new lease also highlights India's continued investment in unmanned aircraft and advanced surveillance technologies.

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