Tensions with China over Himalayas: India close to approving purchase of armed drones from US

India To approve the purchase agreement Drones High weapons America In order to face the concrete situation of China On the disputed border The HimalayasPeople familiar with the matter revealed to the newspaper Wall Street Journal.

According to the American newspaper, the purchase of advanced drones MQ-9B “Predator” can Approved in coming weeks.

These are combat-capable drones Submarine, as well as anti-ship and surface attack missiles. They can operate at altitudes above 12,000 meters and can launch sensors or sonobuoys to detect the presence of enemy submarines.

Its acquisition will also increase Monitoring efforts of the Indian Army Indian OceanChina’s naval presence there has increased.

If the deal is finalized, US approval will be required and it could take months for the governments to sign an agreement. The deal will make India the first non-US ally to enter into a deal to buy a weaponized version of the drones.

New Delhi It had originally planned to buy around 30 drones 3,000 million dollars. The number can be reduced in between 18 And 24 Following a recent assessment by a panel comprising representatives of the three military branches, he said wsj An Indian security official aware of the situation.

The acquisition requires the approval of two government committees, one headed by the Defense Minister; Rajnath SinghAnother by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

So far, the country’s defense forces have operated two drones. MQ-9B A basic version since it was leased from the US in 2020 after a deadly border conflict with China. The planes have given information about the congestion troops And Infrastructures of China and have played an important role in helping India They have to plan their countermeasures, according to an Indian defense official, one of the people familiar with the proposed acquisition.

Rented drones have done it all 10,000 flight hours In the past two years, it has flown as far as the Gulf of Aden and the South China Sea, according to the official.

Relationships between India And China After a while they were severely damaged Border clash in Kalwan Valley in June 2020In the Western Himalayas, the worst in 45 years among the nuclear nations, of which At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed and 76 wounded, while Beijing admitted Four people died and one was seriously injured.

Both powers reacted to the conflict by sending troops to the LAC, the disputed de facto border that separates the two countries, sparking military tensions in the region before beginning to withdraw troops amid fresh military operations and allegations of border violations.

New Delhi and Beijing tried to resolve the crisis through diplomatic channels.

The two nuclear powers maintain a historic dispute over many parts of the Himalayas, which Beijing claims Arunachal PradeshControlled by New Delhi, which in turn lays claim Aksai ChinAdministered by a neighboring country.

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