The US State Department has approved the possible sale of 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones to India for nearly $4 billion. The authorisation came amid media reports that the US Congress withheld the agreement until India conducted a ‘meaningful investigation’ into an attempted assassination plot involving US citizen and pro-Khalistan Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
The agreement was announced during Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the US last June and was expected to be completed by this January. In November, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin also further discussed the deal.
The Drone Deal
In a press release, the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) informed the US Congress that “the State Department has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to the Government of India of MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $3.99 billion.” Furthermore, DSCA informed that General Atomics Aeronautical Systems will act as the primary contractor.
The sale includes advanced communications and surveillance technology, 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, and 310 Laser Small Diameter Bombs, which are precision glide bombs.
According to DSCA’s press release, the proposed sale will help “strengthen the US-India strategic relationship and improve the security of a major defence partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.” “There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale,” it clarified.
The United States has approved a $4 billion sale of state-of-the-art drones to India, eager to modernize its military in the face of China, after a delay following an alleged assassination plot on US soil.https://t.co/FCitfJioY7
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 2, 2024
Furthermore, during a press briefing, US State Department spokesperson Matt Miller addressed the drone agreement and a possible timeline of the sale, saying, “I cannot give you a timeline. This was the initial step today, notifying Congress. The exact timeline of the delivery is something that we will explore with the Government of India over the coming months.” “It offers India outright ownership and a 16-fold increase in the number of aircraft, as compared to their current lease of two MQ-9A aircraft,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, a US Embassy spokesperson in New Delhi explained the procedural details, noting, “The US Congress now has 30 days to review the proposed sale. Upon conclusion of their review, India and the United States may conclude the sale with a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA).”
Reports indicate that the drones would strengthen India’s security forces along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and on its shared border with Pakistan. The drones would also provide New Delhi with a strategic advantage over its adversaries by allowing it to conduct long-range surveillance and precision strikes without putting crewed aircraft or pilots in danger.
US Congress Stalling Deal: Report
According to a report by The Wire, US legislators stalled a $3 billion Predator drone deal until India would conduct a ‘meaningful investigation’ into the failed assassination plot against pro-Khalistan leader Pannun. The drone agreement reportedly included the purchase of 15 SeaGuardian drones for the Indian Navy, and eight SkyGuardian drones for the Indian Army and Air Force, but has been stalled.
Additionally, smaller deals with the US, such as a proposal to buy six Boeing P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft, have also been halted. A source stated that the US lawmakers have frozen the legislative process needed to materialise the pact as there is outrage over the “brazen attempts” to assassinate Pannun.
"This was the initial step today, notifying Congress. The exact timeline of the delivery is something that we will explore with the Government of India over the coming months", US State department on Drone Deal pic.twitter.com/aaNFqNEoc4
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) February 2, 2024
Assassination Allegations Against India
In November 2023, the US alleged that an Indian government official known as ‘CC1’ enlisted Indian national Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to kill “Sikhs for Justice” founder Pannun on American soil. Gupta was arrested on 30 June in the Czech Republic and remains in custody. The US government has requested Gupta’s extradition for “the crime of conspiracy to commit murder for hire.”
Adrienne Watson, a White House National Security Council spokesperson, explained that after the defendant “credibly indicated” that he received instructions from an Indian government official, “we took this information very seriously and engaged in direct conversations with the Indian government at the highest levels to express our concern.”
Meanwhile, Arindam Bagchi, then spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said that the Indian government has constituted a high-level inquiry team to investigate the alleged attempt to target a Khalistani separatist leader in the US.
Bagchi stressed, “India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well,” and said that “relevant departments were already examining the issue.” The spokesperson added that the Indian government would take appropriate follow-up actions based on the Committee’s findings.