MQ-9B DRONES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Security)

Context: India recently initiated the process to purchase 31 MQ-9B drones from the USA.

MQ-9B drones

• Developed by: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI).
• The MQ-9B drone is a variant of the MQ-9 “Reaper”.
• MQ-9 Reaper: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations.
• They are armed with strike missiles that can take out enemy targets with high accuracy.
• The MQ-9B has two variants: Sky Guardian and Sea Guardian.

o The Indian Navy has been operating the MQ-9B Sea Guardian since 2020.

Features of MQ-9B Sea Guardian 

• Payload: It can carry up to 5,670 kg.
• Altitude: 40,000 feet.
• Endurance time: 40 hours.
• This makes it useful for long-hour surveillance.
• It can support land, maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, strike, electronic warfare, and expeditionary roles.
• It is capable of automatic take-offs and landings.
• This enables joint forces and civil authorities to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the maritime domain — day or night.