US nod to export of Predator XP UAV to India

[Bang Galore]

In a development that will reinforce India-US relations and herald a strategic partnership, Washington is understood to have given clearance for export of ‘Predator XP’ version unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to India.

Manufactured by San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, ‘Predator XP’ UAV could be possibly used for multiple purposes, including patrolling of the Pakistan and China borders touching India and reconnaissance of red terror areas. The home ministry is also keen on acquiring this sophisticated technology.

Highly placed sources told FE that the licence to export to India was cleared by the US administration in October 2014 itself, much before the visit of US President Barack Obama. The permission to allow exports to India of advanced US military UAVs which fall under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Category I export control restrictions has been termed as significant and a big step towards forging a strategic partnership between the two nations.

Though the sources refrained from sharing pricing details of the UAV, it is estimated that a 10-vehicle Predator system, with ground stations and software, would cost around $400 million. A single Predator vehicle would cost between $4 million and $15 million depending on surveillance equipment and weapons.

In fact, General Atomics is seen as the pioneer of this sophisticated but deadly drone technology and could be indicative of a larger role the company wants to play in India and the Asia Pacific region. The company, which made its India debut in the defence expo held last year for the first time, is expected to participate at Aero-India 2015 to be held in Bangalore from February 18.

The Obama administration has been making efforts to relax strictures on selling less-sensitive military hardware to foreign countries, and in an effort to avoid losing a share in the rapidly expanding foreign unmanned aerial vehicle market. However, there is a growing trend where US companies are being proactive and trying to develop export versions of UAVs that are saleable. General Atomics did just that with its Predator XP, an unarmed version of the medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV flown by the US military.

There are already 4,000 different unmanned aircraft platforms in circulation in the global market, most built by US manufacturers, according to an IHS Industry Research and Analysis report.

Because of the extended range and carrying capacity of high-end UAVs like Global Hawks and Predators, they fall under a stringent set of controls that govern the international sale of cruise missiles. The MTCR requires exporters of systems that can fly farther than 300 km and carry more than 500 kg be licensed by both the state and commerce departments.

The Predator model on offer to countries including India is a stripped down version of MQ-1 armed drones the US military uses in Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as in Iraq. But they are without the capability to carry missiles.

US nod to export of Predator XP UAV to India | The Financial Express

 

[SamantK]

The ability to monitor the border areas continuously and for a longer time with the many sensors on-board will help in reducing the unwanted non-state actors from entering our borders.

However, I want to know if this can really change the game for us and why this drone is different than the mini ones we operate.

This looks like a good deal.

 

[topgun047]

Last I heard they had changed the name from Predator to something more politically acceptable after the unfortunate targeting of civilians by this drone in Pakistan.

Is this the same drone or something new ?

 

[bloo]

These will be very dumbed down versions of the original predators because of the MTCR.
Shouldn't waste money and continue with development of Rustom.

 

[That Guy]

Not a game changer. I believe Pakistan was also offered this, but it was rejected as PA already has surveillance drones, and wanted strike drone instead.

 

[SvenSvensonov]

Last I heard they had changed the name from Predator to something more politically acceptable after the unfortunate targeting of civilians by this drone in Pakistan.

Is this the same drone or something new ?

There has been no name change. Predator is still Predator, though the Predator C is known as the Avenger. This is the Predator XP:

This is an old article, but it will explain the Predator XP system:

Drone-maker General Atomics will sell an unarmed version of its Predator unmanned system to the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the Middle East as part of a plan to boost international sales, a vice president said.

The drone, called the Predator XP, is equipped with radar and sensors to offer wide-area surveillance but not weapon systems such as laser-guided bombs or air-to-ground missiles, according to Christopher Ames, director of international strategic development for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., based near San Diego.

The design gives it a different type of missile classification that means it can be sold directly to foreign customers and outside of the federal government’s foreign military sale process, Ames said.

“It opens up a whole range of new markets that had been previously closed,” he said in an interview with Military.com at the Paris Air Show. “Allies and coalition members were saying, ‘When do we get our Predator?’”

The company has built more than 575 medium and high-altitude remotely piloted aircraft, including those made popular by their Air Force designations, MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. The U.S. military in the past decade has used both systems to conduct strikes against insurgents and suspected terrorists in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

The company made an effort to display a new Predator B at the show, Ames said. “I’m told we’re one of the only U.S. companies displaying an actual aircraft,” he said. “We worked hard to make it happen.”

The Paris show was noteworthy this year for its dearth of American-made fighter jets, cargo planes, helicopters and drones. The Defense Department drastically scaled back its presence at the event due to federal budget cuts and increased congressional scrutiny of travel spending.

Among the aircraft notably missing in action: the fourth-generation F/A-18 Super Hornet and fifth-generation F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets; the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor craft, which takes off like a helicopter and flies like an plane; the RQ-4 Global Hawk drone, the biggest unmanned aircraft in the fleet; even the C-130J cargo plane.

The Defense Department faces $500 billion in automatic cuts over the next decade. That’s in addition to almost $500 billion in defense reductions already included in 2011 deficit-reduction legislation. The first installment of the automatic cuts began March 1 after lawmakers were unable to reach an alternative agreement on taxes and spending.

General Atomics isn’t concerned that the across-the-board cuts, known as sequestration, will hurt its overall revenue, Ames said.

“There may be a dip on the U.S. side, but there may be a commensurate rise on the international side,” he said. “You would forfeit other things, but never having the unmanned eye in the sky.”

While the international market place is becoming increasingly congested with unmanned products, the company’s systems are “of a very high pedigree” and remain popular, Ames said.

The company sees increasing demand in Europe for the Predator B and in the Asia-Pacific region for a maritime version of the craft, he said. It also expects the U.S. Air Force to buy more of the jet-powered Predator C, which can fly at speeds of up to 400 knots, compared with a top speed of 240 knots for its other types of craft, he said.

From General Atomics Sells Predator XP Abroad | Defense Tech

These will be very dumbed down versions of the original predators because of the MTCR.

Maybe, maybe not. Japan gets good gear, the UK and Israel too, as does Australia. Perhaps India will get our best export designations and not some monkey version. However, only the UK has been sold UCAVs, so don't expect anything armed from the US.

Any sale will still involve an export version that is devoid of sensitive US electronics such as Gorgon Stare, but that doesn't mean the system will be garbage either.

This Predator is carrying the Gorgon Stare system:

USAF image appears to show Gorgon Stare Increment II in Afghanistan - IHS Jane's 360

USAF declares Gorgon Stare follow-on operationally deployable - IHS Jane's 360

 

[SamantK]

There has been no name change. Predator is still Predator, though the Predator C is known as the Avenger. This is the Predator XP:

View attachment 189902

Can you please explain what outstanding features it offers in its export version?

 

[SvenSvensonov]

Can you please explain what outstanding features it offers in its export version?

Look at the standard Predator, subtract the sensitive electronics. Viola! The export version. One thing to remember, this is the Predator B, not the Predator C (the Avenger) or the Reaper, it's an upgraded version of the original Predator. Honestly, I wouldn't take this package and instead would opt for the Reaper, which is also for sale.

General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Each generation has military platforms which define it. Inter-continental ballistic missiles, stealth bombers, and nuclear propulsion submarines assumed that mantle during the Cold War. In the post-Cold War period, few military platforms have captivated the War on Terror generation like the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

Despite great success on the battlefield, American defense firms have found it difficult to generate significant export revenue from UAV platforms. This is because export of advanced U.S. military UAVs have traditionally fallen under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Category I export control restrictions. These restrictions strongly discourage export of such platforms to important buyer countries in Asia and the Middle East such as India, UAE, and Singapore.

As defense budgets decline worldwide, it is no secret that American defense firms are looking to break into growing markets in Asia and the Middle East to offset future revenue losses. But with American manufacturers unable to sell their advanced UAV technologies in these regions, that market share has gone largely to foreign manufacturers, including UAV exporters from Israel, Singapore, and South Africa.

That is about to change.

Leading American UAV manufacturers have redesigned their existing military platforms to fall under the far less restrictive MTCR Category II. The redesigned UAVs will prove more competitive than previous non-U.S. military platforms offered by American manufacturers and their offshore subsidiaries, industry insiders say. The Obama Administration also appears increasingly supportive of the export of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance-only UAV platforms to select non-MTCR member states in Asia and the Middle East, including India.


General Atomics is one American UAV manufacturer hoping to win big in Asia and the Middle East. The company recently introduced an unarmed but potent MTCR Category II-governed offering, the Predator XP, designed for overseas buyers.

“The recent disclosure by the Administration (regarding their support of ISR-only UAV exports to non-MTCR countries) sparked our interest. Non-MTCR Category I countries have not been a focus for us. But, that changed recently when the U.S. Government gave export permission for the Predator XP. The differences are slight changes to the configuration which now make it Category II compliant. The Predator XP opens up new markets to us,” according to Christopher Ames, Director of Business Development at General Atomics.

One such market is India, which Ames acknowledges is a market of interest for his company. However, it is not the only emerging market that General Atomics hopes to enter into. For this reason, company executives are involved in a number of industry-led export control reform initiatives.

That said, the company is not all-in on emerging markets. The bulk of its international business development efforts remain focused on selling Category I-governed Predators to traditional MTCR member states in Europe and Asia.

In Asia, General Atomics continues to prioritize Predator B sales to Australia, Japan, and South Korea. Ames believes that these countries will emerge as major American UAV buyers as they seek to acquire new maritime accountability capabilities, including larger, more capable UAVs equipped with multi-mode maritime radar.

From Predator Maker Redesigns UAV To Boost Exports « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary

 

[chhota bheem]

though i like predators,dont need one which cant fire missiles.without missiles its another tarrrr.

 

[Bang Galore]

though i like predators,dont need one which cant fire missiles.without missiles its another tarrrr.

That's actually not a deal breaker, it's not like we will be usually flying them in places where we would be sending them in armed with missiles. While there is a place for armed drones, the bulk of India's requirement is for surveillance. Depending on how good the package is (after all, it has to be better/cost-effective than anything the Israelis have to even merit attention from India), it may be a reasonably good choice.

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An interesting article:

US Homeland security claims Predator drones doing little to ensure border security
Wednesday, 7 January 2015

A report by the US Department of Homeland security suggests that the military Predator drones used for guarding the US-Mexico border hardly had any contribution in ensuring a more secure border. According to The Verge, the report, first dug up by Cyrus Farivar at Ars Technica, takes a skeptical look at the cost of flying the drone missions, and finds no plausible metric to justify the expense.

The report is a major hindrance to the Border Patrol's plans to expand the program, which requires an additional fund of 443 million dollars. DHS Inspector General John Roth said in a statement that there was no evidence that the drones contributed to a more secure border, and that there was no reason to invest additional taxpayer funds at this time.

US Homeland security claims Predator drones doing little to ensure border security | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis

 

[Guynextdoor2]

I don't like this. We should continue building on our own drone platforms.

 

[OrionHunter]

However, I want to know if this can really change the game for us and why this drone is different than the mini ones we operate.

The Predator drone has an endurance of upto 40 hours unlike the mini drones that can operate for a couple of hours max. The max altitude is 30,000 ft unlike the mini UAVs which have a limited service ceiling of a few thousand feet only.

The Predator XP has an installed automatic takeoff and landing capability unlike mini UAVs.

Predator XP replaces Raytheon’s Multi-Spectral Targeting System with a FLIR System turret with Star SAFIRE 380 HD surveillance turret, or General Atomics’ own Lynx Ground Looking radar.

 

[Judge]

I thought GoI was interested in Triton.

 

[datalibdaz]

The ability to monitor the border areas continuously and for a longer time with the many sensors on-board will help in reducing the unwanted non-state actors from entering our borders.

However, I want to know if this can really change the game for us and why this drone is different than the mini ones we operate.

This looks like a good deal.

A perfect example is Afg and Pak Border...The US have deployed drones with much more sensitive equipment...it still didn't help at many occasions. Mountainous terrain are the most difficult and drones might not work all the time...

 

[topgun047]

I thought GoI was interested in Triton.

Yes or its predecessor Global Hawk.
Maybe a case of guarding technology.