The decks are clear now for India to take the next steps in acquiring 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian armed drones with ammunition with the lapse on Friday of the 30-day period for Congressional review of the deal.
These armed drones are meant for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and for land, air and sea warfare. India has two of these drones -- MQ-9A -- company-lease-and-operation basis from the manufacturers, General Atomics.
The entire package of drones with ammunition that India has sought will cost an estimated $3.99 billion.
The drones will come with 161 embedded global positioning and inertial navigation systems; 35 L3 Rio Grande Communications Intelligence Sensor Suites; 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles; 16 M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles; 310 GBU-39B/B Laser Small Diameter Bombs; and eight GBU-39B/B LSDB Guided Test Vehicles with live fuzes.
The proposed sale of these drones were announced by US President Joe Biden during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington D.C. in June 2023. The administration notified Congress of the deal, as it must for all military exports of a certain value, on February 1, giving lawmakers 30 days to raise objections to the proposed deal, which will be deemed cleared of no there is opposition to it.
"The Congressional review period will conclude at the end of the 30th calendar day after notification and the posting of the media announcement," said a US official.
The announcement came on February 1.
"After that it's up to the parties to conclude and sign a Letter of Offer and Acceptance."
A wrinkle in the deal had emerged before the notification period when Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is a key Congressional body for clearing foreign military sales, linked his support for the the deal to assurance from the Biden administration that India would cooperate in the murder-for-hire case involving the alleged to murder a Khalistani activist. He subsequently announced his support for the deal shortly after Congress was notified.
General Atomics says that the SkyGuardian "is designed to fly over the horizon via satellite for up to 40-plus hours in all types of weather and safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the world--day or night". And apart from his combat capabilities, "it can be used for humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, search and rescue, law enforcement and border enforcement".
Tripura BJP to Focus on Organisational Strength Ahead of Upcoming Polls
BJP state president Abhishek Debroy has said that strengthening the party organisation at every level will remain the BJP's top priority as it prepares for the upcoming electoral battles in the state.
Governor Urges Mass Participation in Anti-Drug Drive at Tripura University
Calling drug addiction one of the most serious challenges confronting society, Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu urged citizens to join hands in the fight against narcotics, stressing that a drug-free society can only be achieved through collective public participation.
IGP holds review meeting in Gomati, stresses on intelligence-based policing
Tripura Police’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Law and Order Branch, Manchak Eppar, IPS, visited the Gomati District Police Headquarters to assess the district’s law and order situation, crime prevention strategies and the overall progress of policing activities.
Stolen auto recovered from in Bishramganj, police launch probe
Bishramganj Police have recovered a stolen CNG auto-rickshaw from a rubber plantation near the new petrol pump area along the National Highway late Saturday night.
Auto Drivers Protest Traffic Enforcement in Kamalasagar
Tension briefly flared in the Lembutuli area of Kamalasagar on Sunday after an enforcement drive against the use of black window films (sun-control films) on vehicles led to a confrontation between Bishalgarh Police and auto-rickshaw drivers.
Garbage dumping row triggers protest in Kamalpur
Alleged dumping of garbage into a privately owned pond in Rishipara under Ward No. 2 of the Kamalpur Nagar Panchayat in Dhalai district has sparked outrage among local residents, who have demanded immediate intervention by the administration to address the growing environmental and public health concerns.
Police personnel accused of performing duty under influence of alcohol at Mata Bari; Probe Demanded
Allegations that a police personnel was performing duty under the influence of alcohol at the revered Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, Gomati district, have triggered widespread concern, with the incident drawing significant attention on social media.
Woman dies, minor injured after car crashes into house in South
A 45-year-old woman lost her life and a 10-year-old girl was injured after a WagonR car allegedly went out of control and hit them near Kalachhara Railway Station in South Tripura district on Sunday morning.