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India Leases Two MQ-9B SeaGuardian Drones for ₹1,943 Crore

The Indian Navy will lease two MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones for ₹1,943 crore over 30 months, enhancing its surveillance capabilities.

17 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: India Leases Two MQ-9B SeaGuardian Drones for ₹1,943 Crore — Archive photoPhoto: aeroman3 · Flickr · PDM

India has signed a deal worth ₹1,943 crore (approximately $236 million) to lease two MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones from a US firm, aimed at bolstering the surveillance capacities of the Indian Navy. According to reports, the lease agreement will last for a period of 30 months and includes advanced sensors and systems designed for maritime operations.

This leasing arrangement follows a previous $3 billion contract, where India procured 31 MQ-9B drones from General Atomics for tri-service use. The inclusion of these drones is expected to augment India's naval capabilities in the region.

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