India Forms High-Level Panel To Decide On Curtailed Predator Drone Agreement With US

The three services have requirements for drones that may be stationed for monitoring as well as attacking the enemy targets from a long distance.

India was to buy 30 of these high-altitude long-endurance drones (Representative Image)

New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has formed a committee under a three-star-rank official to decide on the reduced agreement for procuring predator drones from the US, amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong push for ‘Make in India’ in defence.

According to the earlier plans, India was to buy 30 of these high-altitude long-endurance drones with strike capability, including missiles, to be split equally among the three services.

“A committee has been formed under a Lieutenant General-rank officer of the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters to decide on the number of Predator drones that the three services should buy to meet their requirements till the time indigenous development of similar equipment can be done,” news agency ANI quoted the government sources as saying.

As per the sources, the three services have requirements for drones that may be stationed for monitoring as well as attacking the enemy targets from a long distance.

On the orders of the Prime Minister’s Office, almost all of the defence deals planned through the import route had either been abandoned or put on hold by the Defence Ministry in favour of the indigenous weapon systems.

It is to be noted that India has two predator drones that were leased from an American company and have been assisting the Navy in keeping track on activities in the Indian Ocean region (IOR). The two drones leased from the Americans are also continuously monitoring the movement of Chinese research vessels and the Anti-piracy Escort Force.

In a bid to keep a vigilance over the Indian Ocean region, India has also bought 12 American P-8I anti-submarine warfare and surveillance planes and is in the process of acquiring six more.

However, following the government’s directions on import programmes, the government is set to make a quick decision on the project.

Notably, as directed by the Prime Minister, the Indian Navy is now charting an indigenous path for all of its weapon systems and equipment requirements.

PM Modi has been emphasising on indigenisation and recently told the military forces and other stakeholders that only made in India systems can provide them with unique answers.