India and the US on Tuesday signed deals worth Rs 32,000 crore for buying 31 Predator drones for the three services and setting up a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility
for them in the country.
The deal between India and the US was signed in the presence of senior officials, according to defence officials.
Last week, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the acquisition of 31 Predator drones. Of these 31 Predator drones, 15 will go to the Indian Navy, while the rest will be divided equally between the Air Force and the Army.
Speaking about the deal, defence officials said that the foreign military sales contract with the US government for 31 Predator drones and the MRO was scheduled to be signed on Tuesday. The American team of military and corporate officials are in town for signing these contracts, the officials said.
Discussions about this deal have been ongoing for several years. The final approvals were recently secured during a Defence Acquisition Council meeting. The deal needed clearance by October 31 due to the expiration of the American proposal. The drones will be stationed at INS Rajali near Chennai, Porbandar in Gujarat, Sarsawa, and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. The Indian military selected the number of drones based on a comprehensive
study.
