India to lease two Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy

The Union Ministry of Defence on Monday (August 17, 2026) signed a ₹1,943-crore contract with the U.S.-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) remotely piloted aircraft system for the Indian Navy for 30 months.

The MQ-9B Sea Guardian systems, equipped with advanced sensors and payloads, are expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s maritime domain awareness, and provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage over substantial areas of the maritime domain, according to the Defence Ministry.

The leased platforms will strengthen India’s ability to monitor maritime developments across the Indian Ocean Region, and respond to emerging security challenges, the Ministry stated.

The capability would enhance maritime domain awareness and persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage across the Indian Ocean Region, and advance the shared commitment of India and the U.S. to a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific, the U.S. Embassy said, welcoming the contract.

The contract comes as India and the U.S. continue defence cooperation, with maritime security and surveillance emerging as key areas of the bilateral partnership.

Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence, A. Anbarasu, was present for the signing of the contract at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi.