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India seeks armed Predator Avenger drones from the U.S.

 
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 12:03 pm    Post subject: India seeks armed Predator Avenger drones from the U.S. Reply with quote

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-10/india-seeks-armed-u-s-predator-drones-in-challenge-to-pakistan

India Seeks Armed Drones From U.S. in Challenge to Pakistan

November 9, 2015

India is vying to become one of the first countries to import armed Predator Avenger drones from the U.S., a move that would allow it to remotely drop a bomb on any square inch of Pakistan.

The unmanned aircraft manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. are sleek, fast, killing machines. From New Delhi they could hunt militants across Pakistan, and become a strategic consideration in border standoffs with China.

If approved, the drones would be another sign of the growing defense ties between Washington and New Delhi: India was the second-largest buyer of U.S. arms in 2014, up from virtually nothing five years ago. The Avengers also represent a small but significant tilt in the strategic dynamics of a region with three nuclear powers and about 40 percent of the world’s population.

Vivek Lall, General Atomics’s chief executive of U.S. and International Strategic Development, said in an October telephone interview that his company is “aware of India’s interest in Predator-series" drones.

Any sale faces a number of hurdles. Before India could acquire the drones, it must become a member of the Missile Technology group of 34 nations that have common rules for exporting weapons systems. The bloc’s annual meeting concluded on Oct. 9 without India being named a member.

U.S. officials “remain steadfast" in supporting India’s membership, Helaena White, a State Department spokeswoman, said on Nov. 5. As to India buying the Avenger, White said "I can’t speculate on a hypothetical request." The U.S. Department of Defense referred questions about armed drone sales to the State Department.


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/india-news/pm-modis-us-visit-india-asks-us-for-predator-c-drones/278929/

India asks US for Predator C drones

June 9, 2016

India has formally asked the United States for Predator C Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), a leading defence journal says.

Reliable sources told India Strategic that the Predator C requirement has been mentioned at a very high level during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s just-concluded visit to Washington. Now that India is getting into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), President Barack Obama will ask the State and Defense Departments to consider the Indian request.

Predator C is made by General Atomics Aeronautical System Inc. (GA-ASI), which has already offered an unarmed version, Predator XP, to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy for reconnaissance purposes.

The number of drones required by India is not known but the UCAV, also known as Avenger, will be operated by the Indian Air Force which, in any case, is also short of manned combat jets. In the troubled terror-infested environment around India, a combination of manned and unmanned precision strike aircraft and systems is an immediate necessity.

The IAF had, in fact, asked the Ministry of Defence for strike drones – or UCAVs – at least six or seven years ago.

Avenger is a further development of the MQ 9 Reaper, which is extensively used by the US CIA to neutralise terrorists with precision strikes and minimum collateral damage.

Avenger has a turboprop engine, some stealth features, a highly sophisticated Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for reconnaissance and targeting and can carry air-to-ground missiles like the Hellfire. It can be controlled from anywhere in the world through satellite connectivity.

Notably, although a strike drone like the Predator C has no onboard pilot, its operation requires a couple of people at the control station to monitor the target area and then to command the machine to shoot after due verification.

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PostPosted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 2:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/indian-navy-initiates-steps-to-acquire-predator-b-guardian-emals-2947690/

Indian Navy initiates steps to acquire Predator B Guardian, EMALS

August 1, 2016

The Indian Navy has initiated the first steps towards acquiring the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for carriers as well as the long-range Predator B Guardian surveillance drone by sending Letters of Request (LoRs) to the Pentagon under government-to-government deals.

According to defence magazine India Strategic (www.indiastrategic.in) the LoRs, requesting price and availability for 22 Guardians and three EMALS catapults, are now under consideration by the US Department of Defense (DOD) for clearance under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme and according to sources in Washington, a positive view is likely to be taken and discussions between the two countries should begin soon. Once the process is through, the US Government (USG) will send its Letters of Acceptance (LOAs).

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