9B boost: India leases 2 Sea Guardians for Indian Ocean surveillance

An MQ-9B Sea Guardian unmanned aircraft flies over the sea. (Image credit: Indian Navy) In a boost to the Indian Navy’s surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities over the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the defence ministry has signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. for the leasing of two MQ?9B Sea Guardian High?Altitude Long?Endurance (HALE) remotely piloted aircraft systems for the Indian Navy. Valued at around Rs 1,943 crore, the 30?month lease is intended to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage across the Indian Ocean Region. Equipped with advanced sensors and payloads, the Sea Guardians will significantly enhance maritime…