New Delhi: India is on the verge of finalizing a deal to procure MQ-9 Reaper armed drones from the United States in a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) scheduled to take place today in the national capital, as announced by defense officials.

The DAC meeting, chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, will commence at approximately 10:00 am today. The agenda of the meeting includes discussions on other defense deals labeled as 'Made in India,' according to defense officials.

High-ranking officials from the Defense Ministry and the military will attend this meeting. Additionally, the meeting will focus on other defense deals that are also classified as 'Made in India.' 

This development precedes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the United States. Earlier plans suggested a reduction in the number of drones to be acquired from 30 to 18 or even less, as stated by defense sources. However, the sources have indicated that India is now expected to proceed with the original plan of acquiring all 30 drones.

The Indian Navy has taken the lead in the procurement of these drones and has been actively pursuing the case. Furthermore, the three branches of the military have plans to acquire similar types of medium-altitude and long-endurance drones from domestic sources.

Meanwhile, PM Modi's visit to the US is scheduled from June 21 to 24, during which US President Joe Biden will host him at the White House. This visit will mark PM Modi's first state visit to the US in his nine-year tenure as prime minister.

During his visit, PM Narendra Modi will also become the first Indian PM to address the Joint Meeting of the US Congress for the second time. Indian Americans view the invitation extended to the Prime Minister to address the US Congress as a testament to the historic significance of the relationship between the US and India, reflecting their shared dream and commitment to global peace and prosperity, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
In March, the Defense Ministry approved proposals worth Rs 70,500 crore to promote the 'Make-in-India' initiative in the defense sector by purchasing various weapon systems for the Indian armed forces.

The DAC meeting, chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, was responsible for granting approval for the acquisition of 60 Made-in-India Utility Helicopters (Maritime) and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for the Indian Navy, 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) howitzers for the Indian Army, and 9 ALH Dhruv choppers for the Indian Coast Guard, according to officials.

A statement from the Defense Ministry highlighted the need to keep up with emerging technologies and counter adversaries on the Western and Northern fronts, emphasizing the government's recognition of the necessity for new weapons and their integration with delivery platforms.

To achieve these objectives, the DAC approved the Indian Air Force's proposal for the Long Range Stand-Off Weapon (LRSOW), which will be indigenously designed, developed, and integrated onto SU-30 MKI aircraft. The acquisition of 60 Utility Helicopters (Maritime) amounts to Rs 32,000 crore and these helicopters have been designed to meet the warship requirements of the Indian armed forces.

In January of this year, the DAC approved three capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 4,276 crore for the procurement of indigenous Helina anti-tank missiles and air defense systems to counter enemy aircraft.
In December of last year, the DAC granted approval for the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 24 Capital Acquisition Proposals.

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