General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI)
GA-ASI is the manufacturer of the Predator/MQ-9 family of HALE UAVs and is now a top-tier India defence partner following the October 2024 signing of a $3.9 billion (≈₹32,000 crore) contract for 31 MQ
Last verified:
At a Glance
- Headquarters
- Poway, California, USA (parent General Atomics headquartered in San Diego, CA)
- Type
- Manufacturer (listed)
- Founded
- 1955 (General Atomics); GA-ASI as a separate division from 1993
- India entity
- null
- Listed
- Privately held (Blue family ownership); not listed
- Key India role
- GA-ASI is the manufacturer of the Predator/MQ-9 family of HALE UAVs and is now a top-tier India defence partner following the October 2024 signing of a $3.9 billion (≈₹32,000 crore) contract for 31 MQ
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What It Is
GA-ASI is the manufacturer of the Predator/MQ-9 family of HALE UAVs and is now a top-tier India defence partner following the October 2024 signing of a $3.9 billion (≈₹32,000 crore) contract for 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian HALE RPAS for the Indian tri-services (16 Army, 8 Navy, 7 Air Force). Deliveries are expected between 2027 and 2030. India had previously leased two MQ-9B SeaGuardians for the Indian Navy in 2020, and signed a follow-on ₹1,943 crore lease for two additional SeaGuardians in August 2026 (delivered soon after). GA-ASI opened its India office in New Delhi in November 2018, has a strategic partnership with Bharat Forge (Jan 2023) for aerostructures, an MOU with HAL (Feb 2023) for MQ-9B engine MRO support, and an MOU with Huneed Technologies for flat panel array supply.
Deployments & Procurement
5 documented India deployment(s)/procurement(s).
| Agency | Context | Year | Quantity / Note | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Navy (initial lease) | Lease of 2 MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs for maritime ISR | 2020 | 2 | [1][2][3] |
| Indian MoD (tri-services) | Signing of $3.9B / 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian contract following US State Dept FMS approval on 1 Feb 2024 | 2024 | 31 (16 Army, 8 Navy, 7 IAF) | [1][2][3] |
| Indian Navy (second lease) | ₹1,943 crore deal for 2 additional MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs | 2026 | 2 | [1][2][3] |
| Bharat Forge (Kalyani Group) | Strategic partnership to manufacture MQ-9B aerostructures in India | 2023 | n/a (partnership) | [1][2][3] |
| HAL | MOU for MRO support of MQ-9B engines in India | 2023 | n/a (MOU) | [1][2][3] |
Import Dependencies
Not analysed in this dossier.
Intelligence Assessment
Methodology: /research/methodology/
FAQ
What is the size of India's MQ-9B Predator deal with General Atomics?
India signed a $3.9 billion (≈₹32,000 crore) contract in October 2024 for 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian HALE RPAS — 16 for the Indian Army, 8 for the Indian Navy and 7 for the Indian Air Force. The US State Department approved the FMS sale on 1 February 2024 and deliveries are expected between 2027 and 2030.
When did General Atomics open its India office?
General Atomics Global opened its India office in New Delhi on 27 November 2018, simultaneously announcing the appointment of an Indian executive (Dr. Vivek Lall) to lead India strategic affairs.
Which Indian companies have partnerships with GA-ASI for MQ-9B?
GA-ASI has a strategic partnership with Bharat Forge (Kalyani Group), announced 3 January 2023, to manufacture aerostructures in India; an MOU with HAL (Feb 2023) for MQ-9B engine MRO support; and an MOU with Huneed Technologies for flat-panel array supply.
Sources
- src-01Crediblehttps://breakingdefense.com/2024/02/us-approves-4-billion-deal-to-sell-india-31-maritime-mq-9b-skyguardian-drones
US State Department approves $4B sale of 31 MQ-9B drones to India
- src-02Crediblehttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-68150918
Confirms US approval of $4bn sale of armed drones to India
- src-03Crediblehttps://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-state-dept-oks-possible-sale-31-armed-drones-india-pentagon-2024-02-01
US State Dept okays possible sale of 31 armed drones to India
- src-04Crediblehttps://news.usni.org/2024/02/01/u-s-approves-potential-3-9b-mq-9b-uav-sale-to-india
DSCA notification of $3.9B MQ-9B sale to India
- src-05Crediblehttps://www.airforce-technology.com/news/india-signs-mq-9b-rpas-deal-us
India signs 31 MQ-9B Sky/Sea Guardian HALE RPAS deal
- src-06Indicativehttps://defence.in/threads/general-atomics-expected-to-deliver-all-31-mq-9b-predator-drones-to-india-from-2027-to-2030.10548
GA-ASI expected to deliver all 31 MQ-9B to India from 2027 to 2030
- src-07Crediblehttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/defence/news/india-signs-rs-1943-cr-deal-with-us-firm-to-lease-2-mq-9b-sea-guardian-drones-for-navy/articleshow/133306349.cms
India signs ₹1,943 crore deal to lease 2 MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones for Navy
- src-08Crediblehttps://www.naval-technology.com/news/india-mq-9b-seaguardian
Confirms India leases two MQ-9B SeaGuardians in $203M deal
- src-09Officialhttps://www.ga.com/general-atomics-global-opens-new-delhi-office-announces-indian-executive
GA opens New Delhi office and announces Indian executive
- src-10Officialhttps://www.ga-asi.com/ga-asi-announces-strategic-partnership-with-bharat-forge-to-manufacture-aerostructures
GA-ASI partnership with Bharat Forge to manufacture aerostructures in India
- src-11Crediblehttps://swarajyamag.com/business/bharat-forge-general-atomics-partner-to-manufacture-key-components-for-advanced-uavs-in-india
Bharat Forge - GA partnership for advanced UAV components in India
- src-12Crediblehttps://stratpost.com/hal-to-support-general-atomics-mq-9b-engines
HAL to support GA MQ-9B engines
- src-13Officialhttps://www.ga-asi.com/huneed-technologies-signs-mou-to-supply-flat-panel-array-to-ga-asi
Huneed Technologies (South Korea) MOU; Indian supply chain context