In a major boost to enhance surveillance in the Indian Ocean region and possibly across the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Indian Navy has inducted two Predator drones from an American firm on a year-long lease, India Today reports.
Under the emergency procurement powers provided by the Ministry of Defence, these drones which are capable of carrying out surveillance for more than 30 hours have been acquired.
“The drones arrived in India in the second week of November and were inducted into flying operations on 21 November at Indian Navy base at INS Rajali,” the news agency quoted top government sources.
The three military branches plan to obtain 18 more such drones from the US and under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 and the Defence Procurement Manual 2009 the United States can allow for leasing weapon systems cuts down expenditure as the vendor is responsible for the maintenance of the system.
That is why an American crew is accompanying the equipment as well as assist in the maintenance and technical issues. However, the Indian Navy will be handling the control of the joystick and sortie planning.
But the most important point is that the Indian Navy will exclusively hold the rights of the data collected via the drones.
It must also be noted that since the drones will be flown by the Indian navy pilots. they must have gone through extensive training and orientation. Also, there is no information available or not disclosed if these drones will only be used for surveillance or they carry any weapons package like the hellfire missiles.
The MQ-1 Predator drones are capable of carrying more than 1,000 pounds of bombs and missiles capable of striking targets at land, sea and air.