Navy To Get More 'Sea Guardians' As India Signs Rs 1,943‑Crore Long‑Endurance Drone Deal with General Atomics

India has signed a contract with American Firm General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for leasing of two MQ-9B Sea Guardian for Indian Navy for 30 months. The high-altitude long-endurance drones have been leased for the Indian Navy at a cost of Rs 1,943 crore ($203 million).

"The contract is valued at approximately Rs 1,943 crore. It was signed in the presence of additional secretary and director general (acquisition), Department of Defence," the Defence Ministry said.

The deal will "significantly enhance" Navy's maritime domain awareness capabilities and strengthen "ability to monitor and respond to developments across the Indian Ocean Region", the government said in a statement.

Sea Guardian Equipped With State-of-Art Features

The MQ-9B Sea Guardian remotely-piloted aircraft are equipped with advanced systems, state-of-the-art sensors and sophisticated payloads.

They will significantly enhance the Indian Navy's Maritime Domain Awareness capabilities, the ministry said in a statement.

“The systems will provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage over vast areas of the maritime domain, strengthening India's ability to monitor and respond to developments across the Indian Ocean Region,” it said.

The deal comes at a time when India and China are engaged in a strategic tussle for influence in the Indian Ocean region.

The Navy already operates two Sea Guardian drones, which were leased a few years ago. In 2020, the Indian Navy leased two MQ-9A drones from General Atomics for a period of one year, which was subsequently extended.

India has long expressed interest in buying large, armed drones from the US.

In 2024, New Delhi signed a deal with the US State Department to buy 31 armed MQ-9B Sky Guardian and Sea Guardian high-altitude long-endurance drones.