India all set to procure Predator drone from US after MTCR membership

sorcerer

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From the Indian side, the project is not on the priority list due to the expenses involved and from Washington's side there is no intention yet of offering nuclear power plant technology that will be needed for a warship of that size.
Well! and I was wondering why the talk went on to simmer!
 

WolfPack86

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US Defence official confirms India will acquire ‘Guardian Drones’

A week after India allowed the US to use its Army, Air Force and Naval bases for military purposes, Washington has announced that it will export 22 unarmed high-tech multi-mission Predator Guardian drones to the South Asian powerhouse.

A senior US Defence Department official has confirmed the news, saying that India will use the Predator Guardian drones mainly for maritime surveillance in the Indian Ocean. The official, who wished to remain anonymous, described India as the US’ “major defence partner” in Asia, stressing that New Delhi had sent a request to the Barrack Obama administration in this regard in June. Later, the Defence Department received an official Letter of Request (LoR) from the Indian Navy in which it was clearly stated that the Indian naval forces were eager to purchase 22 Predator Guardian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Although the US government is yet to make a formal decision on the sale, it is ready to begin an inter agency process on the Indian request. The Obama administration hopes that such a major military sale will help strengthen bilateral defence ties.

The Predator Guardian UAVs, manufactured by General Atomics, would act as a force multiplier for India’s maritime surveillance capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region, as they have cutting-edge technologies that do not exist in the current Indian Navy arsenal. The drone can fly for 24 hours without refuelling and also operate at 50,000ft altitude (while modern passenger aircraft cruise at 35,000-45,000ft).

According to sources close to the Defence Department, the supply of Guardian drones to India will not only bring in “a new level of comfort” between the two militaries, but also allow the US to monitor Chinese activities in the Asia-Pacific region with India’s help.

The American defence experts, too, consider the sale of Predator Guardian UAVs as a force multiplier for India’s maritime surveillance capabilities in the Indian Ocean. Since signing the ‘Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement’ (LEMOA) with India on August 29, America has hinted that one of its key objectives in the Asia Pacific region is to counter the Chinese aggression with strong Indo-US defence co-operation.

During his recent visit to New Delhi, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter assured Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar that the South Asian nation would soon receive all the 22 Guardian UAVs for fulfilling its maritime surveillance requirements.

Currently, India operates a variety of drones, from hand-launched models to Israeli-origin Herons. With the exception of the Harpy that can be used as a suicide bomber since it self-destructs on impact with a chosen target, all are battlefield and theatre surveillance craft. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is close to completing development of an armed drone, called Rustom, which will be armed with missiles.

As far as neighbouring Pakistan is concerned, it has recently developed its first armed drone, “The Burraq”, with Chinese assistance. The Burraq fires a locally-developed air-to-surface missile, called the “Barq”, and has been used in counter-terror operations.

http://defencenews.in/article/US-Defence-official-confirms-India-will-acquire-‘Guardian-Drones’-8028
 

WolfPack86

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India tries to hasten U.S. defense deals amid election uncertainty

India is trying to hasten a deal with the United States to buy Predator drone aircraft for military surveillance, one of several defense and nuclear projects the two sides are pursuing in the final months of the Obama administration.

India's request for 22 Predator Guardian drones made in June is in an advanced stage of negotiations. The two sides hope to make enough progress so only administrative tasks remain by the time President Barack Obama leaves office, government officials in New Delhi said.

"It is progressing well. The aim is to complete the main process in the next few months," said one of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has built personal ties with President Barack Obama, whose signature foreign policy move has been a strategic pivot to Asia from the Middle East.

The United States has dislodged Russia as the top arms supplier to India. New Delhi is also on the cusp of sealing a U.S. nuclear reactor deal worth billions of dollars.

In return, Washington has given New Delhi access to high-end military technology, such as a new system to launch planes off aircraft carriers, and leaned on other countries to give India membership in the Missile Technology Control Regime, which cleared the way for the sale of the unarmed Predator.

India's military has also asked for the armed version of the Predator to help target suspected militant camps in Pakistan but U.S. export control laws prohibit such a transfer.

U.S. Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, who visited India in April, is expected to make a final trip there toward the end of the year.

"The administration is eager to get as much done as is humanly possible. They believe the conditions and the personnel in both capitals are uniquely favorable at the moment, and are eager to consolidate and institutionalize the progress," said Jeff Smith, director of Asia Security Programs at the American Foreign Policy Council.


"AMERICA FIRST" ::

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy statements have raised questions in India and other Asian nations about a U.S. pullback from Asia.

Trump has said U.S. allies, such as Japan and South Korea, should pay more toward their defense. He told the New York Times in an interview in March he could withdraw U.S. troops from bases in Japan, and raised the idea of letting Japan and South Korea develop their own nuclear arsenals.

"It is a serious concern, and may lead to Chinese pre-eminence in Asia far sooner than expected," said Dhruva Jaishankar, a specialist on India-U.S. ties at Brookings India.

But Trump adviser Walid Phares, an American scholar and expert on Islamist radicals and counter-terrorism, said India had no reason to worry.

"With India, there is the ongoing partnership against terror and both countries have suffered from jihadi urban attacks. One can only project cooperation," Phares said.

Modi's office set up a six-member research group in July to help identify ways to engage with Trump, an aide said.

India's diaspora in the United States, led by the Overseas Friends of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, has also opened a line to both presidential campaigns.

The comfort level is much higher with the Democratic candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said a member of the Overseas Friends of BJP who is based in New Delhi.

Manoj Ladwa, a London-based political strategist who served as communications director for Modi's 2014 campaign, said Trump had sent contradictory messages to India.

"On the one hand, he says he values business relations with India, but then mimics Indian call center workers, and disregards the competitiveness that a partnership with India could provide the U.S.," he said.

"His unpredictability is worrisome in a world that requires steady and mature statesmanship."


STRATEGIC PROGRAMS ::

The centerpiece of the military collaboration is the help the United States is giving India in developing its biggest aircraft carrier.

Washington has offered flight launch technology that is being inducted into its own carriers to fly heavier fighter planes off the deck, which could allow the Indian navy to leapfrog a generation of technology.

In June, the United States reached agreement on exchanging confidential information on development of carriers with India - its only non-treaty ally with such an arrangement.

"They have already started helping us on our first indigenous carrier, in terms of certification, quality testing," said the Indian government official. "The challenge will be to sustain the momentum over the next decade."

In August the Modi government signed a logistics agreement giving each country access to the other's military bases, after 10 years of negotiations. Also on the table are two other defense agreements, one on securing communications and the other on sharing spatial data that Washington has been pushing for.

Modi has shown he won't hesitate to "reach down and choke someone," to get things done, Smith at the American Foreign Policy Council said, quoting a Pentagon official.

http://www.defencenews.in/article/I...-defense-deals-amid-election-uncertainty-8507
 

WolfPack86

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Donald Trump's Election Unlikely To Delay Predator Drone Sale To India

Predator B Guardian maritime reconnaissance remotely piloted vehicle
New Delhi: Donald Trump's election as America's next President is unlikely to affect talks between the US and India for the sale of state-of-the-art Predator drones for the Indian armed forces.
NDTV has learned that, for the moment, the visit of the outgoing US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter to India in December remains unchanged.
During Mr. Carter's visit, the two sides are expected to discuss the sale of 22 unarmed Predator B Guardian drones for maritime surveillance and possibly 100 armed Predator C Avengers for the Indian Air Force.
Dates for Secretary Carter's visit are expected to be finalized over the next few days. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had met him in the US in August this year when talks on India acquiring the sensitive Predator systems were taken forward.
Progress in talks has largely been made possible by India joining the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in June and being declared a "major defense partner" of the US.
Secretary Carter's likely visit to India post the elections - Mr. Trump will take oath in January - is unprecedented and shows how the outgoing Barack Obama administration wants to solidify the gains made in Indo-US defense ties, sources told NDTV. At the same time, there is broad bipartisan support in the US Congress for the Predator sale, they said.
The Indian Armed forces presently operate unarmed Israeli Heron and Searcher unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones used for day and night-time reconnaissance missions.
The Indian Air Force has for years said it needs armed drones - weapon systems that have come into sharp focus after the Uri terror attack when the Indian Army took significant risks in deploying para-commandos across the Line of Control (LoC) to take out terrorist launch pads.
The government has cleared a request by the Air Force to acquire 10 Heron TPs at an estimated cost of Rs 2,620 crore from Israel. These can be fitted with weapons to engage targets on the ground such as terrorist camps.
Armed with Hellfire anti-armour missiles, which can strike targets eight kilometers away, the Predator C Avenger has the ability to detect targets across the LoC and hit them while flying well within Indian airspace.
Attack variants of the Predator have been used widely by US forces deployed in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Iraq in fighting terrorist forces, often through precision strikes. An extended range version of the Predator Avenger featuring a 76-foot wingspan can fly for up to 20 hours at an altitude of 50,000 feet.

Predator C Avenger armed remotely piloted vehicle. Predators have been used widely by US forces deployed in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Iraq
Those watching the progress of talks between India and the United States on the Predator systems point out that while the armed version of the Predator is a priority, talks are at a more advanced stage for the Indian Navy's requirement for the maritime Predator `B' Guardian. The Guardian carries an electro-optical night vision system and multi-mode maritime surveillance radar.
Capable of flying up to 27 hours nonstop , the Guardian can cover vast stretches of India's coast line sharing crucial intelligence data with ground or ship based operators or the Indian Navy's new Boeing P-8 I maritime reconnaissance aircraft which are equipped with torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
China recently unveiled its new CH-5 (Rainbow 5) armed drones described by some as the world's most advanced. The CH-5 has also been cleared for export to friendly countries such as Pakistan, which is already working closely with China on its UAV programs.
China's new CH-5 drone cleared for export to countries like Pakistan
In an interview to www.china.org.cn, a mouthpiece for the Chinese government, Shi-Wen, the chief designer of the drone has said the CH-5 can remain airborne for up to 32 hours when carrying 8 AR-1 air-to-ground missiles. "Hovering above a hostile region for that long time creates enough deterrence. You can just imagine a drone carrying eight missiles and watching you from above non-stop for 24 hours," said Shi.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/11/donald-trumps-election-unlikely-to.html
 

WolfPack86

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US Senators Push For Sale Of Guardian Drones To India

WASHINGTON: A top US Senator has strongly pushed for selling the state-of-the-art guardian drones to India which "is going to be the next great thing of defense collaboration" between both countries.
Democrat Senator Mark Warner and his Republican colleague in the Senate Dan Sullivan, during a program here asserted that the erstwhile Obama Administration and the US Congress designating India as a major defense partner is a significant step forward in taking the India-US relationship to the next level.
While the two lawmakers were strong on India-US co-operation in Asia Pacific region, in particular South China Sea, both appeared to be quite soft to when it came to India's interest with regard to terrorist safe havens in Pakistan which has been responsible for a number of terrorist attacks from across the border.
Senator Sullivan argued the case for joint military operation by India and the US in areas of common interest.
India, notably has shown reluctance to such a proposal from the US so far.
Warner, who is Co-Chair of the Senate India caucus and Ranking member of powerful Senate Select Committee on Intelligence expressed his displeasure of the bureaucracy from the US State Department and Department of Defense in selling the guardian drones to India.
India had requested for purchase of significant number of guardian drones for maritime surveillance, especially in the Indian Ocean.
"I have been frustrated with the Defense and State Department in terms of the sale of guardian drones. This is going to be the next great thing of defense collaboration," Warner said, as he expressed his disappointment over what he said India's inability to absorb the requirement of 30 per cent offset.
"Major Defense Partnership" which he said moves India into the category of non-NATO type ally, "is a great step in the right direction."
"Actually this (Major Defense Partner) status that is unique to India. The idea is to actually institutionalize (the relationship)," Sullivan said in his remarks at the Widrow Wilson Center, a top American think-tank.
Responding to a question on Pakistan, Warner said while India and the US have a very strong relationship between the intelligence community, there is enormous concern not only about Pakistan's role in unrest in Kashmir, but also the terrorist organisations from Pakistan.
Warner said that it is in the best interest of Pakistan not to differentiate between different groups of terrorists.
Praising India's patience, Warner said India today has risen to a place where it sees itself as a major international partner. "I want to send a strong message that Pakistani can't play" both ways, supporting one group of terrorists one hand and taking action against the others," he said.
Sullivan said there is always an area of common interest with India.
"I believe we can have strong relationship with both countries particularly in the area of international terrorism," he said.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/03/us-senators-push-for-sale-of-guardian.html
 

3deffect

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US Senators Push For Sale Of Guardian Drones To India

WASHINGTON: A top US Senator has strongly pushed for selling the state-of-the-art guardian drones to India which "is going to be the next great thing of defense collaboration" between both countries.
Democrat Senator Mark Warner and his Republican colleague in the Senate Dan Sullivan, during a program here asserted that the erstwhile Obama Administration and the US Congress designating India as a major defense partner is a significant step forward in taking the India-US relationship to the next level.
While the two lawmakers were strong on India-US co-operation in Asia Pacific region, in particular South China Sea, both appeared to be quite soft to when it came to India's interest with regard to terrorist safe havens in Pakistan which has been responsible for a number of terrorist attacks from across the border.
Senator Sullivan argued the case for joint military operation by India and the US in areas of common interest.
India, notably has shown reluctance to such a proposal from the US so far.
Warner, who is Co-Chair of the Senate India caucus and Ranking member of powerful Senate Select Committee on Intelligence expressed his displeasure of the bureaucracy from the US State Department and Department of Defense in selling the guardian drones to India.
India had requested for purchase of significant number of guardian drones for maritime surveillance, especially in the Indian Ocean.
"I have been frustrated with the Defense and State Department in terms of the sale of guardian drones. This is going to be the next great thing of defense collaboration," Warner said, as he expressed his disappointment over what he said India's inability to absorb the requirement of 30 per cent offset.
"Major Defense Partnership" which he said moves India into the category of non-NATO type ally, "is a great step in the right direction."
"Actually this (Major Defense Partner) status that is unique to India. The idea is to actually institutionalize (the relationship)," Sullivan said in his remarks at the Widrow Wilson Center, a top American think-tank.
Responding to a question on Pakistan, Warner said while India and the US have a very strong relationship between the intelligence community, there is enormous concern not only about Pakistan's role in unrest in Kashmir, but also the terrorist organisations from Pakistan.
Warner said that it is in the best interest of Pakistan not to differentiate between different groups of terrorists.
Praising India's patience, Warner said India today has risen to a place where it sees itself as a major international partner. "I want to send a strong message that Pakistani can't play" both ways, supporting one group of terrorists one hand and taking action against the others," he said.
Sullivan said there is always an area of common interest with India.
"I believe we can have strong relationship with both countries particularly in the area of international terrorism," he said.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/03/us-senators-push-for-sale-of-guardian.html
if we got those drones then we can attack on POK terror camps easily
 

captscooby81

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Countries like Morocco and UAE all have these drones and we were as usual lethargic in acquiring these or even developing our own Drone s which would have played crucial role in counter insurgency roles ..
 

Chinmoy

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When you say 'Guardian' its the CBP version of MQ-9 Reaper. Now 'Guardian' is not the attack version of Reaper, its more of an Recon with SAR tailor made for US CBP. So don't expect it to attack terror camps if its really 'The Guardian' version which US senator is talking of.
 

SilentKiller

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these are attack drones, they carry the same payload a Predator can, it is essentially the newest version of Predator only stealthier and more capable.
:shock::frusty:

These are Unarmed Drones.
FYI - "The US is likely to respond positively to India’s request for 22 unarmed multi- mission Predator Guardian drones for maritime surveillance, especially in the Indian Ocean"

These are for naval use, not for army or airforce.
Don't confuse Predator B or Guardian. we are not getting Predator C / Avenger, which is a stealth version.
 

Brood Father

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:shock::frusty:

These are Unarmed Drones.
FYI - "The US is likely to respond positively to India’s request for 22 unarmed multi- mission Predator Guardian drones for maritime surveillance, especially in the Indian Ocean"

These are for naval use, not for army or airforce.
Don't confuse Predator B or Guardian. we are not getting Predator C / Avenger, which is a stealth version.
Just have a small doubt , cant we arm it ourself or we have signed treaty which is against arming of these drones
 

SilentKiller

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Just have a small doubt , cant we arm it ourself or we have signed treaty which is against arming of these drones
No We can't.
We will not get source code of weapon integeration nor we will be allowed to addin any System/payload other than what is supplied by USA.
We are buying, so low number doesn't bring in ToT + no country gives 100% ToT.
 

Immanuel

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:shock::frusty:

These are Unarmed Drones.
FYI - "The US is likely to respond positively to India’s request for 22 unarmed multi- mission Predator Guardian drones for maritime surveillance, especially in the Indian Ocean"

These are for naval use, not for army or airforce.
Don't confuse Predator B or Guardian. we are not getting Predator C / Avenger, which is a stealth version.
Well then This Guardian drone buy for the Navy is separate, Avenger is being requested for sale as well for IAF.
 

Immanuel

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No We can't.
We will not get source code of weapon integeration nor we will be allowed to addin any System/payload other than what is supplied by USA.
We are buying, so low number doesn't bring in ToT + no country gives 100% ToT.
Not entirely correct, we get what we pay for in terms of weapons integrations, many AFs world wide use 3rd party weapons on their US platforms.
 

SilentKiller

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Not entirely correct, we get what we pay for in terms of weapons integrations, many AFs world wide use 3rd party weapons on their US platforms.
Give few example other than israel.

Porkis cannot integrate chinese missiles to F-16 or Harpoon missile being integrated on F22 frigate.
or have u seen or expect that india can intergrate russian missiles on rafale? russia won't give source codes not will french will give, they might take money as french are just money oriented and intergrate missile which we won't but won't allow us to make change.

have u seen saudis or UAE AF using russian or even european weapons on F-16's? they can only use them if US does required changed, they don't allow them to make changed on their own.

Also recent news for u, u will know how countries blackmail on this.
http://www.livefistdefence.com/2017/02/how-a-secretive-drdo-lab-is-saving-the-iaf-su-30mki.html
 

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