Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, April 10: The Defence Ministry has constituted a committee under a three-star-rank official to deliberate on the reduced agreement for procuring predator drones from the US, amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong push for ‘Make in India’ in defence.
According to previous plans, India was to buy 30 of these high-altitude long-endurance drones with strike capability, including missiles, to be split equally among the three military.
A committee has been formed under a Lieutenant General-rank officer of the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters to decide on the number of Predator drones that the three services should buy to meet their requirements till the time indigenous development of similar equipment can be done,” government sources told ANI.
The three services, according to sources, have requirements for drones that may be deployed for monitoring as well as attacking enemy targets from afar.
On the orders of the Prime Minister’s Office, almost all of the defence deals planned through the import route had been abandoned or placed on hold by the Defence Ministry in favour of indigenous weapon systems.
India has two predator drones that were leased from an American company and have been assisting the Navy in keeping track on activities in the Indian Ocean region. The two drones leased from the Americans are also continually monitoring the movement of Chinese research vessels and the Anti-piracy Escort Force.
For keeping a watch on the Indian Ocean region, India has bought 12 American P-8I anti-submarine warfare and surveillance planes and is in the process of acquiring six more.
However, following the government’s directions on import programmes, the government would make a quick decision on the project. The Indian Navy is now charting an indigenous path for all of its weapon systems and equipment requirements, as directed by the Prime Minister.
PM Modi has been emphasising indigenisation, telling the military forces and other stakeholders recently that only made in India systems can provide them with unique answers.
