New Delhi: When enemies can be killed while sitting, then why is there a need to enter their homes and kill them. Yes, India is going to have such a sure shot weapon that will make Pakistan and China lose sleep. 31 hunter killer drones are going to come to India from America very soon. For this, the Modi government has intensified the exercise. India has intensified the talks to get 31 MQ-9B ‘Hunter-Killer’ remotely piloted aircraft from America. It is expected that this ambitious deal will be completed by November-December this year. India is taking this step at a time when China and Pakistan are strengthening their armed drone fleet.
The Times of India quoted sources in the Ministry of Defense as saying that negotiations with the US government for these 31 armed high-altitude, long-range hunter-killer drones are now in an advanced stage. There are two versions of this drone – one is Sky Guardian and the other is Sea Guardian. When India gets these 31 MQ-9B hunter-killer drones, 15 of these Sea Guardian drones will be given to the Indian Navy. While 8-8 Sky drones will be given to the Indian Air Force and the Army.
Why is this drone important for India?
This weapon is also important for India because there is constant tension on the border between Pakistan and China. On one hand, there is a conflict with China in eastern Ladakh, while on the other hand, Pakistan is constantly trying to carry out its nefarious intentions in Kashmir. Not only this, China is constantly supplying drones to Pakistan. China has accelerated the supply of its armed Kai Hong-4 and Wing Loong-II drones. If sources are to be believed, Pakistan is constantly strengthening its drone fleet. It has asked for 16 more armed Kai Hong-4 (CH-4) drones from its evergreen friend China. The thing to know here is that Pakistan already has seven CH-4 drones in the army and three CH-4 drones in the navy.
Now Pakistan-China’s war of words will end
Even though Pakistan and China are playing drone-drone, pigeon-flying a lot, but now their air is about to come out. The drone that India is getting is a lethal weapon. It has the power to kill enemies from a distance. For it, crossing the border and killing enemies is a cakewalk. The MQ-9B Reaper or Predator-B drone, famous as the hunter killer drone, can fly for about 40 hours at an altitude of more than 40,000 feet. It can easily lift a weight of 5,670 kg. At the same time, its fuel capacity is 2,721 kg.
It is not for nothing that we call them hunter killer drones
It is designed in such a way that it can monitor border and cross-border activities. Also, these drones are equipped with Hellfire missiles i.e. air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs for precise attacks. Hunter killer drones are considered to be much better than Chinese armed drones. That is, as soon as India has these drones, the dragon will start struggling. It is being told that America has kept the price of 31 hunter killer drones at around 3.9 billion dollars (about Rs 33,500 crore). But India will negotiate in this. This price includes everything from missiles to bombs, navigation system and mobile ground control system. The special thing is that this drone will be assembled in India itself.
The ‘weapon’ that shows Al Qaeda its place
Its specialty can be gauged from the fact that when Al-Qaeda chief Al-Zawahiri had to be killed, America used this hunter killer drone. On 31 July 2022, America killed the world’s most wanted terrorist Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul. This hunter killer played an important role in carrying out this task. This hunter killer drone can be used for surveillance, espionage, gathering information or stealthily attacking the enemy’s hideout.
Every move of China will get an answer
At present, the utility of the MQ-9B drone is clearly visible. Both unarmed Sea Guardian drones are constantly deployed on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. These drones have been leased from the American firm General Atomics. They are keeping an eye on the Indian Ocean region as well as the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. These drones are helping a lot in collecting intelligence.
Tags: Anti-drone system, Predator Drones, China, india drone, pakistan news, US News
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 14, 2024, 06:54 IST