QUAD Meet Turns Out To Be A Huge Draw

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Quad-300x188 QUAD Meet Turns Out To Be A Huge Draw

QUAD is a huge draw across the world to set a global agenda against the pivot staying in S Asia. PM Modi and US President Joe Biden discussed the defence partnership between the two countries, including procurement of drones and joint military exercises.

The US President welcomed India’s procurement of 31 General Atomics MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) drones, which will enhance the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of India’s armed forces.

The US had approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B drones to the Indian military at an estimated cost of $3.99 billion in February. Out of the 31 drones, the Indian Navy will get 15 Sea Guardian drones, while the Indian Air Force and the Army will get eight Sky Guardian drones each.

The salient feature of the MQ-9B Predator is its ability to operate with pin-drop silence. It is the stealth feature of the drone that makes it unique from others. The drone can fly as close to 250 metres from the ground without the target even having an inkling it is there unless spotted. The drone can fly higher than a commercial aircraft, around 50,000 feet above the ground, and has a top speed of 442 km/h.

Another important feature of the drone is its ability to be deployed on lengthy missions in any weather. Apart from air-to-air missiles, the drone can also be equipped with air-to-ground missiles. The MQ-9B drone can also carry around 1,700 kg of payload, including four missiles and around 450 kg of bombs, and travel 2,000 miles without refuelling.

The drone can fly continuously or hover over targets for up to 35 hours, according to its manufacturer, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Both leaders “hailed a watershed arrangement to establish a new semiconductor fabrication plant focused on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for national security, next generation telecommunications, and green energy applications,” the White House said in a statement.

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