India has signed a deal worth Rs 32,000 crore with the United States to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, along with the establishment of a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in the country.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved the acquisition last week. Under the agreement, 15 drones will be given to the Indian Navy, while eight each will be handed over to the Indian Air Force and the Army.

Negotiations for the deal had been ongoing for several years, with the final hurdles cleared at a recent Defence Acquisition Council meeting.

The drones are expected to be deployed INS Rajali naval air station near Chennai, Porbandar in Gujarat, and Sarsawa and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

(ani)