India likely to abandon plans to buy 30 American Armidrons

New delhi date. July 28, 2019, Sunday

India is rethinking the purchase of American-made Army drones due to the fact that Iran demolished an American Global Hawk drone in the Persian Gulf a few days ago. The purchase is being led by the Indian Air Force. Questions about the cost of the drone and their eligibility are currently under consideration.

All three wings of the Indian defense sector were preparing and negotiating to buy a total of six drones worth about $ 6 billion (about Rs. 8 billion). However, the defense minister was still unanimous in this regard. The Predator-B Type 1 Armidron was planned to be purchased for the Air Force and the Army, and the remaining 3 drones were for the Navy's Longdistance Surveillance.

Sources in the Defense Department say some questions have been raised internally from the Air Force. Questions have arisen on how effective the drone will be for surveillance on hazardous sites, such as the Pakistani-occupied Kashmir and the LAC (Line of Actual Control).

The United States is currently using the drone in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Syria, but the airspace there is also constantly intercepted by US Air Force planes so the drone is protected. And surveillance is a different issue in LAC.

Defense Department sources say the US drone's ability to smash the global Hawk, prompted questions about the US drone's ability. US President Donald Trump's statement on Kashmir and the rethinking of the drone deal have nothing to do with it. In addition, the high cost of the drone and other related costs is a matter of reconsideration.