The outcome of the recent state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US has been path breaking. The visit has been extraordinarily successful with several substantive outcomes relating to semiconductors, defence acquisitions, access to critical technology and the Artemis Accord for space cooperation. Both countries have agreed on Technology and defence partnerships among others. In this new chapter on far reaching defence partnership, key takeaways have been the deal to co-produce GE’s F414 combat aircraft engines in India and the deal to procure MQ-9B UAVs. These UAVs will increase India’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

India would soon be joining the elite club of other nations operating the MQ-9B including the US Air Force, US Department of Homeland Security, NASA, the Royal Air Force, the Italian Air Force, the French Air Force and the Spanish Air Force.

The modalities of acquisition were cleared ahead of Modi’s visit on June 15, 2023 by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), accordingly the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for acquisition of 31 MQ-9B (15 SeaGuardian and 16 SkyGuardian) High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAV from the US based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) through Foreign Military Sale (FMS) route, at an estimated cost of around $3.1 billion (25,000 crore). The AoN included 15 UAVs for the Indian Navy (IN) and eight each for the Indian Army (IA) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). The case for acquisition of HALE class of UAV is being progressed by the Indian Navy as a lead service while the IAF is the lead service for procurement of MALE class of UAVs.

OPERATIONAL EXPLOITATION GLOBALLY

The USAF has made extensive use of the MQ-9 drones, especially in the Middle East and Afghanistan. At the peak of Afghanistan operations, the USAF had nearly three squadrons of MQ-9A Reapers operating from Kandahar. The drone has been employed on numerous occasions against time sensitive targets like Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Islamic State and other militant groups. Besides, the MQ-9 Reaper was also used in the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani (top commander of Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in-charge of operations in the Middle East), outside the Baghdad airport in January 2020 by firing modified Hellfire Ninja missiles. It has also been widely reported that on July 13, 2022 the United States Air Force (USAF) used the drone to fire Hellfire missile that killed the leader of Al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan, Kabul.

Drones, especially the weaponised drones have played a stellar role during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and operations over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the mid-1990s.

A HIGHLY CAPABLE SYSTEM

The MQ-9 Reaper drone is a variant of drones manufactured by the US based GA-ASI. MQ-9B Reaper is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of being either remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations, developed primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF). The MQ-9 is the first hunter-killer UAV designed for long endurance, high altitude surveillance, it has a 950 shaft horsepower (712 kW).

The MQ-9B Reaper is 36.1 feet in length, has a 65.7 feet wingspan and a height of 12.6 feet. It has a range of 1,900 kms, is capable of carrying 1,800 kgs of fuel, can carry 1,700 kgs of weapons, including 1,361 kgs of external stores. MQ-9B has an endurance of over 27 hours, speeds of 240 KTAS, it can operate up to 50,000 feet.

It is classified as ‘Hunter Killer UAV’ because it is capable of undertaking roles such as surveillance, spying, intelligence gathering, or destroying the enemy’s location. It can operate up to 50,000 feet, and has a 3,850 pound (1,746 kilograms) payload capacity that includes 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of external stores.

The MQ-9B system essentially comprises of four subsystems, viz. a drone equipped with sensors and weapons; a ground control station (GCS), a Predator’s primary satellite link support systems; and a qualified team of operators.

The MQ-9B has two export versions- MQ-9B SkyGuardian and MQ-9B SeaGuardian. As the name suggests, the SeaGuardian is fitted with special equipment intended specifically for maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

SkyGuardian has an over the horizon SATCOM connectivity providing a 40 hours endurance in all weather, by day and night, capable of providing realtime situational awareness globally. It seamlessly integrates into civil airspace. It can be fitted with the Lynx Multi-Mode Radar and an advanced electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor. It has automatic takeoff and landing capability. It has a longer wingspan (as compared to MQ-9A) at 79 ft. SkyGuardian provides enhanced payload capacity. Its open architecture system enables the aircraft to be integrated with the most advanced sensor payloads for intelligence gathering, survivability and kinetic payloads. It has nine hardpoints (eight on wing and one on centerline) with a max 2,155 kg external payload capacity. Its avionics suite has been innovatively designed to meet the NATO standards as well as comply with civil airspace requirements in the US and around the world, thus, SkyGuardian seamlessly integrates with normal air traffic just like a commercial aircraft. It has nine hard points, capable of carrying 4 Hellfire (AGM-4-114) laser guided missiles and GBU-12 Paveway II Laser guided bombs.

The SeaGuardian is a modified version of SkyGuardian with “bolt-on/bolt-off” maritime sensors capability. Besides the other avionics of SkyGuardian, it has a facility of fitment of wide area maritime radar on the centre line. It offers a SATCOM endurance of 30 hours. It can be fitted with sonobuoy dispenser system (SDS) and sonobuoy management and control system (SMCS) thereby offering a superior ASW capability.

INDIAN ARMED FORCES REQUIREMENTS

India has considerably stepped up its surveillance along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, using a fleet of unmanned drones. Availability of a long endurance SATCOM capable MQ-9B drones would be a big up-gradation in Indian surveillance capability.

China’s increasing naval activity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including the docking of the Yuan Wang 5 ship in Sri Lanka, makes the need for the MQ-9B drone even more significant for India. The IN wants to be able to keep an eye on the movements of Chinese warships and submarines in the Indian Ocean and these UAVs are ideally suited for the task. India has a vast Maritime area which needs to be kept under surveillance apart from a huge land border with a western Pakistan and China which also needs to be kept under surveillance.

Presently, the Indian armed forces operate the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) manufactured Searcher and Heron drones. These however have limited intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability, limited ranges and endurance. Also, these UAVs lack precise automation and navigation capability. They do not have an onboard Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) receiver thus are constrained to be employed in dense traffic and heavy air defence environment. In modern air warfare there is requirement to be able to operate in highly contested airspace, have onboard terrain and collision avoidance systems, have SATCOM capability to operate at long ranges from launch bases, with redundant communication systems. Indian terrain, especially along the LAC with China need drones with higher ceiling as well. The present drones on the inventory, lack some of the above specifications and they are not weaponised. Thus, in view of the prevailing geopolitical situation there is an urgent inescapable requirement to have a weaponsied drone to meet the operational requirements of Indian armed forces. This would provide more teeth to the offensive air power at longer ranges.

INDIAN NAVY’S EXPERIENCE

The Indian Navy (IN), under emergency procurement powers delegated to the Service Headquarters has taken two MQ-9B SeaGuardian on lease since November 2020 for a year, later extended based on its more than satisfactory performance. It has logged more than 10,000 flight hours in various roles. The MQ-9B SeaGuardian, together with the P-8I Orion maritime patrol aircraft have proved to be a force multiplier for the IN. The UAV has been extensively deployed along the western borders with Pakistan and along the 3,488 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China for ISR purposes, on numerous occasions.

The MQ-9B has an endurance of over 27 hours and can operate up to 50,000 feet. The naval version has an endurance of more than 36 hours, thereby providing significant loiter time, multi-modal communication, persistent surveillance and precision strike capability. Once delivered and employed, these HALE UAVs would greatly enhance the Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of the Indian armed forces, offer better situational awareness in the maritime domain awareness. The weaponised UAV SkyGuardian will be able to strike strategic targets in mountains and hills with unprecedented precision.

These MQ-9B have been undertaking multiple missions in all weather conditions, conducting long range surveillance missions and delivering real time situational awareness in the maritime domain.

INDIA’S LIKELY ACQUISITION PLANS

The agreement signed in the US will take time to translate into action when actual contours of the deal would be clear. Media reports that India has plans to acquire MQ-9B UAVs in a phased manner. The first phase would include 16 MQ-9B SeaGuardian for the IN, essentially for enhancing the maritime domain awareness in Indo-Pacific. The second phase induction is likely to witness induction of weaponised platforms for the other two services.

While the precise details of the deal in terms of its acquisition costs, delivery schedule, other equipment and accessories are yet to emerge, it is clear that these world class drones are going to be assembled in India, after the initial five from the US in semi knocked down condition. Their acquisition deal would include maintenance, overhaul and repair (MRO) of the UAVs. These are likely to be serviced initially at INS Rajali at Arakonam in Tamil Nadu, from where the IN is operating its leased UAVs. Later two more operating and servicing bases are likely to be made operational in the northern area and another in the Northeast.

Ahead of this huge announcement in the US, GA-ASI had announced its partnerships with Indian companies including Bharat Forge to will produce sub-assemblies, assemblies and landing gear components for MQ-9B UAV.

INDIAN ALTERNATIVES

Although the plan to buy this UAV has been on the cards for a long time, its purchase got delayed due to the emphasis on self-reliance in the defence sector and limitations imposed on imports at various stages.

While Turkey, Israel, and even Iran have been able to develop and deploy long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering munitions, most drone programmes run by India’s DRDO have not reached maturation in the last decade.

Amongst the various UAV or drone programmes being run by the DRDO, TAPAS-BH is the pioneer. It is in MALE category. The indigenously built TAPAS-BH got into limelight and became Indian media’s darling when the DRDO live streamed the footage captured by the TAPAS-BH of the Aero India 2023 show, flying at a height of 12,000 feet.

TAPAS is an acronym for Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance - Beyond Horizon-201 (TAPAS BH-201) is an under development MALE UAV. Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) has been developing it for DRDO. The development has been going full bore, last week, it successfully demonstrated transfer of command and control capabilities of TAPAS-BH between the two ground control stations (GCS) located at its launch base in Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga and onboard INS Subhadra.

TAPAS-BH is still far from operationalisation and weaponisation is a further away. The technology gained in manufacturing and MRO of high-tech MQ-9B would help the Indian industry a big way and galvanise the Indian private Defence sector, while providing the armed forces the much needed real time reliable surveillance capability.