India to lease two Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy
The Indian Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹1,943-crore contract to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones from General Atomics for 30 months. These remotely piloted aircraft will enhance the Indian Navy's maritime surveillance and intelligence capabilities across the Indian Ocean.
Why it matters
This deal strengthens India's maritime security posture and reinforces the strategic defense partnership between India and the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Union Ministry of Defence on Monday (August 17, 2026) signed a ₹1,943-crore contract with the U.S.-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) remotely piloted aircraft system for the Indian Navy for 30 months.
The MQ-9B Sea Guardian systems, equipped with advanced sensors and payloads, are expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s maritime domain awareness, and provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage over large areas of the maritime domain, according to the Defence Ministry.
The leased platforms will strengthen India’s ability to monitor maritime developments across the Indian Ocean Region, and respond to emerging security challenges, the Ministry said.
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