India Set to Swiftly Acquire 31 SkyGuardian Drones from the US

Defense News ,India :-  In a move expected to bolster India's defense capabilities, the sale of 31 MQ9-B SkyGuardian Drones from the United States is poised to progress rapidly. The primary hurdle, a mandatory 30-day Congressional notification, is anticipated to pass without objections, paving the way for a deal valued at USD 3.99 billion. This transaction is crucial for advancing US foreign policy and national security objectives.

The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) informed the US Congress in February about the potential Foreign Military Sale. The drones themselves are priced at USD 1.70 billion, while additional services, technology, and equipment contribute to the remaining USD 2.29 billion. The package includes 161 Embedded Global Positioning & Inertial Navigation Systems (EGIs) and 35 L3 Rio Grande Communications Intelligence Sensor Suite.

The sale, announced by US President Joe Biden during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington DC in June 2023, has already cleared significant legal and bureaucratic procedures on the Indian side, including approvals from the Union Cabinet.

Following the Congressional notification, the next step involves the United States sending a letter of offer and acceptance to India. This step, typically a formality, is crucial for initiating formal price negotiations between the two countries. The announcement of the general election, which triggers the Model Code of Conduct, is not expected to pose a legal obstacle.

The Model Code of Conduct, issued by the Election Commission of India, explicitly exempts matters related to the defense forces from its purview. This includes recruitments, promotions, service matters, defense purchases, and tenders concerning the defense forces. As a result, no reference to such matters needs to be sent to the Election Commission during the election period.

The Election Commission's instructions, issued on March 27, 2014, affirm that the Model Code of Conduct does not apply to defense-related affairs. These instructions are considered standing guidelines and are applicable to all future elections.

With legal and bureaucratic hurdles cleared on both sides, the sale is expected to proceed smoothly. Once the letter of offer and acceptance is received from the United States, India's formal acceptance letter will pave the way for formal price negotiations, bringing the acquisition of the MQ9-B SkyGuardian Drones one step closer to realization.