2023-06-23 16:59:53
An American drone deal for India…the target is China
Until the recent past, India relied heavily on human patrols to monitor the border shared with neighboring China. It is in the remote regions of the Himalayas. However, this was at a different time, which witnessed the warming of relations between the two countries, before the security forces deployed on the borders entered into direct friction in 2020, which rekindled border disputes that had been dormant since the Indo-Chinese war in the 1960s, and witnessed intermittent periods of escalation.
However, India’s need to deploy its elements in that border spot, where the vast rugged corridors that are difficult for any country in the world to monitor, is diminishing, especially following it signed a deal with the United States to purchase MQ-9B drones, or Predator will be worth regarding $3 billion during the first visit of its kind by Indian Prime Minister Rarendra Modi to Washington these days.
What does “Predator” add to the Indian army?
Under the deal, India is expected to get regarding 30 drones of this high-altitude model, which will be distributed between the “SkyGuardian” and “SeaGuardian” classes, and they will be armed, according to the “Wall Street Journal” newspaper, citing Indian officials. .
According to the newspaper, this deal demonstrates India’s growing efforts to closely monitor the borders, as it faces a huge and well-equipped adversary, with an infrastructure strengthened over decades, which gave its soldiers a great advantage.
According to what the general atomics aeronautical company, which manufactures the plane, writes on its website, the first class of these drones (SkyGuardian) represents the second generation of remotely piloted aircraft systems, and provides continuous intelligence and reconnaissance around the planet. The plane was designed, according to the company, to fly over the atmosphere, and to direct via satellite, for more than 40 hours continuously, and this is in different weather conditions. Also, the aircraft is capable of integrating safely into civilian airspace, day or night.
Among the advantages of these drones is that they carry an infrared radar, and are able to take off and land automatically, in addition to their “endurance and continuity leading in the field of the drone industry, as well as superior monitoring capabilities.”
As for its marine counterpart, it focuses on navigation above and below the surface of the seas, although it is also qualified to fly over the atmosphere, but with less continuity, regarding 30 hours. The company describes this aircraft as “the first of its kind in terms of its ability to enable periodic search and surveillance in real time, above and below the surface of the oceans.”
But the most important advantage of this naval march, in the context of the confrontation with China, is its ability to conduct anti-submarine warfare, completely independently, and from a distance, without the need for manned aircraft, as the aircraft carries marine sensors that monitor sounds and movement under the surface of the water, within a radius of 2000 nautical kilometers. In addition, it is equipped with means to combat airborne mines, targeting objects detected from above the atmosphere.
Any effect of paths in the equations of the border dispute?
“Wall Street” quotes Indian security officials as saying that their Chinese neighbor has begun to take, in recent years, a “more aggressive” stance towards the regional conflict with India, and has been trying to encroach little by little on the lands that India claims to belong to. India is constantly monitoring the passage of Chinese army elements into the depth of the disputed lands, and the establishment of military camps and roads there, with the aim of occupying them completely, and cutting off India’s ability to guard them, until the free access of Indian forces to those areas has become a thing of the past.
Accordingly, and in the face of limited work on the ground, India has faced a “difficult task” of closely monitoring the border, through the air, “to avoid falling suddenly and by surprise, in the midst of gradual and hidden Chinese moves,” says an Indian security official, adding that Drones have become, as a result, an urgent necessity.
During the past period, India has been operating dozens of drones, both from the local and Israeli industry, many of which are equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, and also uses satellite images to track Chinese activities in the border areas.
The Indian drone fleet includes, for the most part, Israeli-made aircraft, specifically 25 “Surcher Mark 2” aircraft, which can operate for long hours at altitudes of regarding five kilometers, as well as 90 “Hiron” aircraft, which fly at higher altitudes. It is regarding 10.5 kilometers long and can be flown for 52 hours.
In addition, India also uses a Boeing B-81 surveillance aircraft and has increased its fighter jets’ overflights on the border.
But with the addition of the “Predator” drones to the American (B-81) planes, as well as the Romeo helicopters, as well as the Israeli drones, “the killing chain of the (Indian army) will be greatly strengthened once morest the enemies,” as the newspaper quotes a former Indian naval official.
Gen. M says. Mother. Naravani, who retired from the Indian army a year ago, told the newspaper, “Our goal is to reach 24-hour monitoring of areas of interest, using all means, and under all weather conditions,” adding that following the US aircraft deal became secured, “we can anticipate the movements of the aircraft.” The (Chinese) People’s Liberation Army and the prepositioning of our forces to thwart any event that may have negative results.”
Turn towards the western camp
That border crisis prompted India to neutralize its cautious approach with the United States, which was due, decades ago, to Washington’s support for its main adversary, Pakistan. And it began to get more involved, following decades in which it spearheaded the “Non-Alignment” initiative at the time of bipolarity, in the Western camp, specifically within the quadruple cooperation that brings it together with Japan, Australia and the United States.
Prior to the visit, Modi had described, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, relations between New Delhi and Washington as having “reached an unprecedented level of trust,” considering defense cooperation “a fundamental pillar of partnership.”
On the other hand, the US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, identified the “Chinese challenge” as one of the main motives for increasing rapprochement with India, and anticipated Modi’s visit by saying that it “will represent a turning point in the relationship between the two countries.”
There are various indications of deepening this cooperation between the two countries, especially in the war effort. Last year, Indian and US forces took part in a high-altitude military exercise, some 90 kilometers from the Chinese mainland, in the northern state of Uttarakhand. Moreover, the two countries have deepened their maritime cooperation, particularly in the Indian Ocean, where China is strengthening its presence through submarine deployments and port investments.
However, the Wall Street Journal notes that these relations do not yet rise to the level of an alliance, and they operate within certain restrictions. For example, security experts argue that India is unlikely to join the United States in any possible confrontation with China over Taiwan. Moreover, a major point of departure remains Russia, which is New Delhi’s closest partner and its largest arms supplier, including military aircraft, helicopters, and the famous S-400 missile defense system.
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