Predator B for Indian armed forces, good idea?

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PREDATOR B for INDIAN ARMED FORCES, GOOD IDEA?

During US PRESIDENT visit we heard of a possible sale of 30 PREDATOR B UCAV or combat drones to India. Earlier such deals were refused by US administrations.

Does the sale fo armed UAV represent a shift in INDIA-US relationship? Yes

Is the deal as good? I believe NO.

The 30 UCAV will be divided equally in 3 forces and with the expected price of the bare deal being over 5 billion dollars as estimated values of the deal will be in region of 180-200 million USD for the drones, weapons, sensors and spares Infra etc.

Is getting 30 drones at such price doable? Is it smart to get 30 drones which cost nearly twice as much as a modern fighter? Remember that in my post on rafale cost breakdown ( on site) i came to a near price tag of 100 million for a bare rafale fighter.

At price of 1 predator B we can get 4-5 tejas mk1a with est cost in vicinity of 40 million per pop for tejas mk1a.

But other than price the biggest issue i personally feel with the purchase is its usability. Yes predator B is a HALE or high altitude long endurance drone with over a 30 hr flight time possible but is it useful for the purpose we intend to use it? I seriously doubt.

No matter what IAF & IA currently thinks i feel that these drones will not survive in contested air spaces over our adversaries. Unlike US we are not fighting small states or terror groups with no area denial capabilities, our enemy state is well armed and well supplied by our other arch rival which has been funding and supporting Pakistan's military infrastructure.

For this purpose i feel that the billions we are spending on such armed drone purchases is not fruitful esp when we also had plans for heron TP purchase which is weaponised version of heron drones operated by Indian armed forces.

Although i agree navy needs surveillance drones to keep eye on vast coastlines for security but a 200 million dollar combat drone doesnt seem to justify the bill.

As for airforce it should first focus on the squadron strength and instead sign an order for 83 mk1a jets or the awacs planes which is stuck for long now.

-HITESH ADHIKARI
#DEFENCEGLOBE #defenceglobe