In a major boost for the armed forces' surveillance capabilities, India and the US are set to sign Rs 32,000 crore deals for acquiring 31 Predator drones and setting up a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility for them in India.
In a mega boost for the Indian Navy and surveillance capabilities of the defence forces, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the major deals for building two nuclear submarines indigenously and buying 31 Predator drones from the US.
The cost of 31 Predator drones, which India will be buying from the United States, is still in the early stage of negotiations and a fair distance away from the final figure, Defence Ministry officials said on Thursday
Ministry of Defence said on Sunday that some speculative reports emerged in sections of social media referring to the price and other terms of purchase of 31 predator drones(MQ-9B drones) from the US have ulterior motives and are aimed at derailing the due acquisition process.
The Indian defence forces will deploy the 31 Predator drones at three major hubs across the country to carry out surveillance of all areas, including the borders with China and Pakistan, and the vast maritime zone.