Asian Surveying & Mapping
Breaking News
Chinese launch startup’s rocket fails during satellite launch
The Chinese launch company Galactic Energy suffered its first...
First Hong Kong-made satellite set to launch in November from Guangdong province, company reveals
The first Hong Kong-made satellite is set to be...
China launches Yaogan 39 remote sensing satellite
China launched a Long March 2D carrier rocket on...
Saudi Arabia publishes maps with new names for ceded islands
A new map published by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority...
US, Saudi Arabia conclude region’s largest-ever counter-UAS exercise
The US and Saudi Arabia conducted the largest-ever counter-UAS exercise...
Study improves accuracy of planted forest locations in East Asia
An international team led by Purdue University scientists has...
Iran, Russia Working On Joint Research Spacecraft
In an interview with Tasnim, the president of the...
France, Bangladesh sign deal to provide loans, satellite technology during Macron’s visit to Dhaka
French President Emmanuel Macron witnessed the signature of a...
Iran, Russia Working on Joint Research Spacecraft
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Top universities from Iran and Russia...
India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan reject China’s new ‘controversial’ map, release statements
China continues to receive brute criticism from countries that...

The Indian government recently cleared a deal with the United States to purchase 22 MQ-9 Guardian surveillance drones. This deal, initiated last year and officially cleared in June 2017, is worth an estimated $2 billion.

The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is apparently interested in the Guardian drones for use in reconnoitring the Indian Ocean, amid joint U.S.-Indian concerns about China’s military presence in those waters.

The MQ-9, manufactured by General Atomics, has a range of 1,800 kilometers, and the capability to stay in the air for 30 hours in surveillance configuration. The specific variant of the MQ-9 being purchased by the Indian government is the Guardian-a maritime surveillance model of the Reaper equipped with radar custom-made for usage at sea and advanced weather avoidance systems.

India has also cleared a $400 million defense deal with Israel that, among other things, includes the purchase of 10 Israel Aerospace Industries Eitan multipurpose drones capable of carrying a 5,000-kilogram payload, and would likely be utilised for combat or surveillance operations.

Click here for more information.