Recent Houthi Downing Raises Concerns Over India's $3 Billion MQ-9B Drone Deal

The recent downing of several MQ-9 Reaper drones by Houthi rebels in Yemen has cast a shadow over India's recent $3 billion deal to acquire 31 MQ-9B drones from the United States. While not the exact variant purchased by India, the incidents have raised questions about the drone's vulnerability in contested airspace.

Russian state-owned media outlet Sputnik has been particularly vocal in its criticism, pointing to the loss of nearly six MQ-9s in a few weeks as evidence of potential weaknesses in the platform. They've suggested that the US might be offloading older technology, drawing parallels to their military support for Ukraine.

Despite these concerns, Indian defence officials remain confident in the MQ-9B's capabilities. They believe the drone's advanced features, potentially including stronger defensive measures compared to earlier models, will mitigate the risks highlighted by the Houthi incidents.

The MQ-9B Reaper, a high-altitude, long-endurance drone known for its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, is seen as a valuable asset for India's military. The Indian military is likely banking on US technical support and training to help counter potential threats from sophisticated air defence systems.

 

[Hari Sud]

Some MQ-9 will be lost; there is no question about it but a larger question is that there is no better surveillance platform other than the MQ-9 anywhere.

There is a good question that why the price is so high when if not so technically sophisticated Houthis in Yemen are able to shoot them down. Were it the Russians who provided the know how to shoot them down. Answers like this have to be found before placing a $3 billion order.

 

[Pink Panther]

Good question, but there is no alternative in the World currently that can match MQ9,:it would save us a lot of money in the long run when we make use of them appropriately.

 

[Mithu Roy]

Buying these drones will reduce our cost of monitoring Indian Ocean with one tenth of cost of operating PI 8 Boeing.During war they can't play any role any where since they are sitting ducks.In fact every drone will fail against AD, therefore it's usage is only during peace time to reduce cost of operations

 

[Frank]

I don't like super expensive MQ9 either

Also why S400 blowing up by ATACMS missile which are 40 years old??
Can u answer Russia??

 

[Anubhav Sharma]

If this doesn't happens then who knows when similar deal will happen leaving our forces empty handed

 

[Harsh]

Good question, but there is no alternative in the World currently that can match MQ9,:it would save us a lot of money in the long run when we make use of them appropriately.

The only problem is you get incrementally locked-in to such intelligence gathering and surveillance platforms that inhibit your ability to develop your own, uncompromised, intelligence gathering systems.

 

[kumar]

If we don't have our own MIC, this is the price we have to pay, which indirectly finances MIC of other countries. This creates a vicious cycle.

 

[DrEaDlOcK]

Ok. So do Russians have any counter offer to present or they're just criticising the deal / effectiveness of the platform.
Ur forces know how to operate & where to operate em.
What's the alternative options for Mq9.
Apparently none the closest it comes to Israeli Heron mk2.

 

[Kira]

Fair inquiry by the Russians,but drones innately are very vulnerable to air defences even rudimentary ones such as ones possessed by the Houthi rebels.But India is not acquiring these drones to fly over enemy territory during wartime,but for extensive reconnaissance of enemy installation and movements on land,while monitoring the seas during routine patrols to complement the P-8I and occasionally fire upon pirates if the situation calls for it.
As for hype,Ruskies should know more about that as mighty S-400 has not lived upto it's billing as failed to intercept Ukrainian drones,cruise and ballistic missiles on many occasions,but does not mean the S-400 is a complete failure.

 

[Sandeep]

India won’t use the drone in enemy airspace at all and all drones can be hit by a missile launched by a jet or SAM. The MQ 9B drone is very expensive but its fighting and bombing capabilities are the best in the world. We will mainly be using it along the border and ocean to gain intelligence, conduct surveillance and tracking along with using EW, ESM and gain SIGINT and COMINT and if needed then we can strike any targets safely from within our borders by a missile or bomb developed from us rather than just using American weapons.

 

[Andy S]

These are excellent platforms to monitor sea lanes , And land borders from within India boundaries. Silo Russian concerns are not valid.

 

[Pad UwU]

Fair inquiry by the Russians,but drones innately are very vulnerable to air defences even rudimentary ones such as ones possessed by the Houthi rebels.But India is not acquiring these drones to fly over enemy territory during wartime,but for extensive reconnaissance of enemy installation and movements on land,while monitoring the seas during routine patrols to complement the P-8I and occasionally fire upon pirates if the situation calls for it.
As for hype,Ruskies should know more about that as mighty S-400 has not lived upto it's billing as failed to intercept Ukrainian drones,cruise and ballistic missiles on many occasions,but does not mean the S-400 is a complete failure.

you still believing those Ukrainian and US edited news😹😹😹
Looks like your a fan of ghost of kyiv bruh.... Most of the destroyed air defense system are s300 and old Soviet junks that Russian are disposing and sacrificing.... In my opinion if a real s400 are destroy they might not deploy it without it's radar on because they are just static same goes to western air defense that are destroyed that are circulating in x/Twitter or telegram 😹😹😹

 

[WarTech]

I don't like super expensive MQ9 either

Also why S400 blowing up by ATACMS missile which are 40 years old??
Can u answer Russia??

Exactly, the S400s are utterly useless against old ATACMS, which we along with Turkey brought it thinking it was the greatest AD, but as many Russian weapons are, overinflated.

 

[WarTech]

Fair inquiry by the Russians,but drones innately are very vulnerable to air defences even rudimentary ones such as ones possessed by the Houthi rebels.But India is not acquiring these drones to fly over enemy territory during wartime,but for extensive reconnaissance of enemy installation and movements on land,while monitoring the seas during routine patrols to complement the P-8I and occasionally fire upon pirates if the situation calls for it.
As for hype,Ruskies should know more about that as mighty S-400 has not lived upto it's billing as failed to intercept Ukrainian drones,cruise and ballistic missiles on many occasions,but does not mean the S-400 is a complete failure.

Bruh, S400s were utterly useless against nearly 17 year older missiles. ATACMS was inducted in 1991, whose tech is far older, whereas S400 was continuously developed and made in 2007. And they are taking Ls from it.