Indian Navy leases two additional MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs for $200 mln

Published Aug 18, 05:00 AM UTC

India signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems on August 17, 2026, to lease two additional MQ-9B SeaGuardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Indian Navy for 30 months, worth ₹1,943 crore ($200 million). This brings the total leased MQ-9Bs to four, bridging the gap until India receives 31 MQ-9B Sky/Sea Guardians ordered in October 2024 (delivery from 2029). The leased UAVs will have a similar configuration to the ordered ones, which include armaments like Hellfire missiles and small diameter bombs, and anti-ship missile integration. The lease is part of the Navy's efforts to enhance long-endurance maritime ISR to support its P-8I fleet, amid ongoing UAV inductions and incidents involving other drone types.