India Signs Deal for 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian Drones with USA
India has finalized a multi-billion dollar deal with the United States to procure 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones.
Key Points for Quick Revision
- India to procure 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones from the USA.
- Drones to be distributed among the Navy, Army, and Air Force.
- Enhances HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) surveillance capabilities.
- Includes the establishment of 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. |
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. How many MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones is India procuring from the USA?
- 10
- 21
- 31
- 40
Explanation: India has signed a deal to procure 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones.
Q2. Which company manufactures the MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones?
- Lockheed Martin
- Boeing
- General Atomics
- Northrop Grumman
Explanation: The MQ-9B drones are manufactured by General Atomics.
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.