**India’s Predator Drone Deal with US Estimated to be 27% Cheaper Than Other Countries**
– India is expected to strike a favorable deal in its multi-billion dollar Predator drone deal with the US, with the average estimated cost around 27% lower than what other countries have incurred.
– The long-pending drone deal was announced after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with US President Joe Biden during his recent visit to the US.
– Under the proposed $3.5 billion deal, India will acquire 31 MQ-9B high-altitude, long-endurance drones from the US, with 15 SeaGuardians for the Navy and eight SkyGuardians each for the Army and IAF.
– Negotiations on the pricing issue have not yet begun, but official sources express confidence that the final price will be competitive compared to costs borne by other countries.
– The indicative cost of the drones offered by the US government is $3,072 million, which translates to $99 million for each drone.
– The cost for India is expected to be lower than other countries due to the size of the deal and the manufacturer potentially having recovered a big part of its initial investment from earlier deals.
– However, India may need to integrate some of its own radars and missiles with the drones, which could prompt a price revision.
– The MQ-9B drones are capable of remaining airborne for over 35 hours and can carry four Hellfire missiles and around 450 kg of bombs.
– These drones will help India conduct long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike missions in the Indian Ocean Region as well as along the land frontiers with China and Pakistan.
– The Defense Acquisition Council has already accorded the “acceptance of necessity” for the acquisition of the drones.
Source: [Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/drones-jet-engines-fly-ties-to-sky-beyond-underscore-indias-recalibration-of-strategic-calculus/articleshow/101201356.cms)
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