India Signs $3 Billion Deal for MQ-9B Predator Drones with United States
India has finalized a $3 billion deal with the United States to procure 31 MQ-9B Predator (SeaGuardian/SkyGuardian) drones.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- India finalized a $3 billion deal for 31 MQ-9B Predator drones.
- Includes SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian variants.
- Drones have an endurance of over 35 hours.
- General Atomics to set up an MRO facility in India.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC / State PCS | Medium | 4–8 | UPSC focuses on strategic aspects: defence policy, Indo-Pacific, border issues, and bilateral defence deals. |
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 3–5 | Defence acquisitions, military exercises, and appointments appear in SSC GK. |
| Banking (IBPS / SBI) | Low | 1–2 | Rarely tested in banking exams. |
What to Memorize from This Topic
- Military exercise: name, participating countries, location, purpose
- Defence acquisition: system name, purpose, procured from which country
- Appointments: new Chief of Army Staff, CNS, CAS, and their tenures
- Indigenization: 'Made in India' defence milestones, first-ever systems
- Strategic policy: recent changes to defence export policy, FDI limits in defence
Practice Questions
Q1. Which country is India purchasing the MQ-9B Predator drones from?
- Russia
- France
- United Kingdom
- United States
Explanation: India is purchasing the MQ-9B Predator drones from the United States.
Q2. What is the primary classification of the MQ-9B Predator drone?
- Short-range tactical drone
- High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) drone
- Micro-surveillance drone
- Kamikaze drone
Explanation: The MQ-9B is a High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) drone.
How to Prepare Defence for Government Exams
For every military exercise, note: India + Partner country + Purpose (bilateral or multilateral). Questions are pattern-based.
Defence indigenization ('Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence') is a high-priority topic for 2025–26. Focus on systems developed by DRDO or HAL.
Chiefs of defence services change periodically. Always keep the current CDS, Army Chief, Navy Chief, and Air Chief up to date.
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