The defence ministry announced on Monday the signing of a ₹1,943 crore contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for leasing two MQ-9B Sea Guardian high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft for the Indian Navy. According to the latest reports from the Ministry of Defence, the contract was signed on August 17 in the presence of Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence, A Anbarasu, at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi. The agreement covers a 30-month lease period for the remotely-piloted aircraft systems, providing the Indian Navy with enhanced maritime surveillance capabilities across the Indian Ocean Region.
The MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones are equipped with advanced systems, state-of-the-art sensors and sophisticated payloads that will significantly enhance the Indian Navy's maritime domain awareness capabilities. As reported by the Ministry of Defence, the systems will provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage across large areas of the maritime domain. The ministry stated that the aircraft will strengthen India's ability to monitor and respond to developments across the Indian Ocean Region, with the leased aircraft adding to the Indian Navy's surveillance capabilities as the ministry continues to strengthen its maritime security architecture.
The Indian Navy currently operates two Sea Guardian drones that were leased a few years ago, and this new contract will expand the fleet by adding two additional aircraft. According to the Ministry of Defence, the Navy already has operational experience with these unmanned aircraft systems, providing a foundation for the expanded capabilities that the new lease will bring to maritime surveillance operations. This fleet expansion represents a significant enhancement to India's maritime surveillance infrastructure and operational capabilities.
The MQ-9B Sea Guardian lease contract is part of a broader modernisation initiative by the Indian Navy to enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities. In June, the MoD signed a ₹449 crore contract with Bengaluru-based Accord Software and Systems for the procurement of 20 Enhanced Capability Global Navigation Satellite System (ECGNSS) Jammers for the Indian Navy. The ECGNSS jammers are designed to degrade satellite signal acquisition and tracking by adversary Global Navigation Satellite System receivers, providing signal spoofing capabilities to support safe operation of Indian Navy ships in a multi-threat environment. This contract was signed under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category and carries a minimum indigenous content requirement of 75%, aligning with the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India initiatives aimed at strengthening indigenous defence technology capabilities.
