MQ
9-B - DEFENCE AND SECURITY
News: Modi, Biden agree to deepen defence
cooperation, jet engine pact and MQ-9B feature again in talks
What's
in the news?
●
India and the United States discussed the
recent pact between GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) to
manufacture GE F-414 jet engines in India and the procurement of 31 General
Atomics MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft as both sides sought to expand and
diversify partnership and cooperation in the defence sector.
MQ-9B:
The MQ-9B has two
variants such as
●
The Sky
Guardian
●
The Sea
Guardian, its maritime variant.
Features:
●
The MQ-9B is designed to fly over the
horizon via satellite for up to 40 hours, depending on configuration, in all
types of weather and safely integrate into civil airspace, according to its
manufacturer.
●
For instance, the Sea Guardian
configuration can include a 360-degree
surface-search maritime radar, automatic identification system, sonobuoy
monitoring system, and sonobuoy dispensers for persistent anti-surface and
anti-submarine warfare missions.
Significance:
●
For the Army and Air Force, the MQ-9Bs can
provide round-the-clock surveillance looking far beyond the borders, for
instance on the movement of Chinese military buildup and troop movement along
the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and deep inside.
●
It also seamlessly integrates with other
U.S.-origin platforms that India operates, the P-8Is, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, MH-60R multi-role
helicopters among others expanding MQ-9B’s multi-domain mission set.
UAVs
are already in service:
●
The Indian Navy has leased two MQ-9As from
General Atomics with the maiden flight taking place on November 21, 2020.