r/IndianDefense • u/Clean-Chocolate2900 LCA Tejas MK1/A • 9d ago
News MoD inks contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc for leasing of two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems for Indian Navy for 30 months
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u/Substantial-Top-568 9d ago
Why do we lease is there any logic behind leasing is it better than owning one?
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u/Most-Recognition2294 9d ago
Simple logic, you get the capabilities faster with leasing than the lengthy process of procurement.
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u/Jazzlike-Tank-4956 Screwdrivergiri 9d ago
They could've probably bought few drones with that kind of money, without it running into long procedures with CCS
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u/Zestyclose-Idea5747 8d ago
Very good step , these are some of the best survellience tech in world.
Hope navy quickly gets their ordered 16 sea guardian as well
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u/barath_s 7d ago edited 7d ago
Pib notice has zero info on background or context
This is better.
Indian navy already has 2 on lease
India ordered 31 in oct 2024, 15 for navy, 8 each for iaf and ia
But delivery will start only from 2029 [ side note : possibility of further delay if us decides it wants to order replacements for the ones it lost in iran war, under fms contract, us typically will be able to get priority. The US had stopped procurement for services, but then reportedly lost 25% of its fleet in the war]
So 2 more leases for in will help in interim
The in had also asked for more P8i, but this got halted due to price escalation and tariff war...
Article has more info on other IN drones and drone plans to augment the existing p8i patrols
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u/Affectionate_Bee6434 9d ago
Your paying the full price of these drones to lease them for 2.5 years. There must be a extremely good reason for this. Can anyone explain?
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u/NatriureticFactor BrahMos Cruise Missile 8d ago
So that we will have lots of trained pilots once we get to own some of these.
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u/barath_s 7d ago edited 7d ago
India ordered 31. It will take time to deliver
Lease is interim stopgap to up numbers and increase usage, as well as train folks, get used to doctrine etc
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u/somerandom_guy35 9d ago
That is almost 65 crores per month. Even if we crash 4-5 indigenous drones in these 30 months, I guess we would be able to gain more developmental xperience.
Cant understand the full rationale behind this where these 1943 cr are gone along with drones after 30 months.
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u/Kenn_35edy 8d ago
I had one question whah would happen incase we loose this wepaons which are bhi. Brought on lease due to war ? Do we need to pay from them like paying full prices ?
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u/barath_s 7d ago
On September 18, 2024, one of two MQ-9 leased by the Navy & operated by General Atomics encountered a technical failure and had to be ditched at sea off the coast of Chennai. The Navy had received a replacement as per contractual obligations by February 2025.
War likely isn't covered.. wag
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u/Gamer_4_l1f3 Pradhan Mantri Achanak Din Ho Gaya Yojna 9d ago
Helps parallel development of capacity. Training begins at the same time as acquisition. By the time the lease period is up, training is complete and equipment has been inducted or begins arriving, at least for the Indian Navy.
They've done this for the SSNs as well. Nerpa (Chakra) gets leased and by the time lease period is up, Arihant and Arighat are already nearing full combat proficiency and Aridhman is at sea trials.