India is looking at sealing a landmark deal to procure 31 MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the U.S. under a government-to-government framework by March with the US Congress expected to clear the supplies in the next few weeks, people familiar with the matter said.
American and Indian government officials will hold the final series of negotiations on the procurement after Washington responds to India's Letter of Request (LoR) for the acquisition of drones from US defence major General Atomics (GA), they said.
India is procuring the long-endurance 'hunter-killer' drones to crank up the surveillance apparatus of the armed forces, especially along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
