Navy gets bigger surveillance boost as India signs Rs 1,943 crore MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones deal

India has signed a Rs 1,943 crore agreement with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy, strengthening the country's ability to keep a close watch over its vast maritime domain. The Ministry of Defence said the contract was signed on August 17, 2026, at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi in the presence of Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence, A Anbarasu. Under the agreement, the two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) will be leased to the Indian Navy for 30 months.