Posted on 06/29/2017 10:36:54 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
GA-ASI finally has a customer for its long-proposed maritime surveillance version of the Predator B UAS.
The U.S. has offered to sell the GA-ASI Sea Guardian unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to India, as part of a planned boost in defense cooperation between the two countries. At meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington on June 26, they discussed what would be India’s first procurement of a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAS. After the meeting, the White House stated that “the U.S. and India look forward to working together on advanced defense equipment and technology at a level commensurate with that of the closest allies and partners of the United States.”
The Indian Navy has been seeking a long-endurance HALE UAS for maritime surveillance for some years. The Sea Guardian is a version of the MQ-9B Sky Guardian—also known as the Certifiable Predator B—that GA-ASI offers with a multimode maritime surface search radar and the Automatic Identification System (AIS—the maritime equivalent of IFF). Vivek Lall, GA-ASI’s chief executive officer for international strategic development, told AIN: “The U.S. offer demonstrates a major change in policy, because this type of capability is only exported to a select few of America's closest defense partners.”
The Indian Navy wants to acquire 22 shore-based HALE UAS. But since it plans to become a “Blue Water” navy that will protect trade routes and conduct anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean, the requirement could increase to 45 to 50 systems. Delivery is expected within three years.
Nine years ago, the U.S. Navy chose Northrop Grumman’s Titan HALE UAS for maritime surveillance, in preference to a version of the Predator B that GA-ASI offered in partnership with Lockheed Martin. The U.S. Navy has since been developing cooperative concepts of operations (CONOPS) between the Triton and its Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). India has also acquired the P-8, and the Sea Guardian UAS will be similarly complementary to that fleet, an Indian naval official told AIN.
Meanwhile, with India having joined the Missile Technology Export Control Regime (MCTR) last year, the U.S. government is considering a request by the Indian Air Force for GA-ASI’s jet-powered Avenger UAS, an official told AIN. “Perhaps the U.S. is hesitant since they fall into Category 1, which the U.S. has released to only a few NATO allies,” the official said. The MTCR tightly controls Category 1 systems because of their ability to deliver nuclear weapons.
The White House statement also referred to the already agreed supply of C-17 airlifters and AH-64 attack helicopters to India, and the possible future supply of F-16 or F/A-18 fighters. The U.S Congress has just been notified of the possible sale of an additional C-17 to India. The sale is worth no less than $366 million for the single aircraft plus support package. Discussions continue over possible Indian participation in the U.S. Future Vertical Lift development program.
One unresolved issue between the two countries since 2005 is the signing of the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA). This outlines strict safeguards for radio equipment, plus inspections by the U.S. on India’s military bases. Citing “issues related to sovereignty,” India has refused to sign it. “CISMOA is an enabler for joint operations with the U.S. However, for operations driven for India’s needs, there is no practical requirement for CISMOA,” said Rahul Gangal, a partner at defense consultancy Roland Berger.
The US should NOT be selling any weapons to India. Heck, why are we doing anything with India while they refuse to take back deportable Indians? Didn’t Trump promise during the campaign to do exactly this?
Good Looking Aircraft!
Does Boeing still have unsold C-17s on the tarmac after it shut down it's line in 2015? I know they built about a dozen or so without firm orders just before the line shut down.
No, India is NOT our ally. We should treat them the same as China. Let them nuke each other for all I care. And, Trump promised to hold up relations if countries do not accept their citizens back. India, for one, does not. We have leverage and Trump should use it. He needs to honor this promise. Else, shall we chalk this up as another promise not kept? Add this to his continued amnesty for illegal aliens?
And, you are going to vote to whome next election?
You, of course, are asking if I will vote for Trump. Look, if he continues to break promises, such as ending Obama’s executive orders and actions giving amnesty to illegals, if he doesn’t force countries like India to take their citizens back, if he doesn’t build the wall, and so forth, I’ll happily vote for an alternative Republican in the primary, making Trump a one term president. He is no different than our Republicans in Congress, either keep your promises or get booted. Too bad so many people keep voting people back in even though they say one thing to get elected, then do another. Didn’t Hillary explain last fall that she had a public and private position on things? Is this any more acceptable that Trump and members of Congress do? No.
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