New Delhi, August 17: The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹1,943 crore contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for the lease of two MQ-9B SeaGuardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Indian Navy.
The systems will be leased for 30 months, strengthening the Navy’s ability to maintain persistent surveillance across India’s vast maritime area and the wider Indian Ocean Region.
The contract was signed on August 17 at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi, in the presence of Additional Secretary & Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence, Shri A. Anbarasu.
🌊 Major Boost to Maritime Domain Awareness
The MQ-9B SeaGuardian is equipped with advanced sensors, sophisticated payloads and long-endurance capabilities, allowing it to remain airborne for extended periods while monitoring large areas.
For the Indian Navy, the leased aircraft are expected to significantly enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) — the ability to detect, track and understand activity across India’s maritime environment.
The platforms will provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage over extensive areas, allowing the Navy to maintain a clearer picture of maritime activity.
🛰️ Persistent Surveillance Across the Indian Ocean
The SeaGuardian’s high-altitude, long-endurance capability makes it particularly suited for monitoring India’s vast maritime approaches.
The systems can support surveillance missions over large distances and provide information that can assist naval forces in tracking developments and responding to emerging situations.
Their deployment is therefore expected to strengthen India’s ability to maintain continuous awareness across important portions of the Indian Ocean Region, where maritime traffic and strategic activity are increasing.
⚓ Strengthening Indian Navy’s ISR Capability
The acquisition comes amid the Indian Navy’s continued focus on strengthening its surveillance, reconnaissance and networked maritime security capabilities.
The MQ-9B platforms will complement existing naval assets by providing an additional persistent aerial surveillance layer, helping bridge the gap between conventional aircraft, ships and other maritime monitoring systems.
The ₹1,943 crore lease arrangement provides the Navy with access to the capability for 30 months, enabling rapid enhancement of maritime surveillance capacity.
🇮🇳 Focus on Maritime Security
With India’s strategic interests extending across the Indian Ocean, maintaining awareness of developments at sea remains a key priority.
The leased SeaGuardians are expected to contribute to India’s ability to monitor vast maritime areas, identify emerging developments and support timely operational responses.
The contract represents another step in strengthening the Indian Navy’s technological capabilities and enhancing India’s overall maritime security architecture.