Sale of Armed Drones

Armed drones are the new battlefield force multipliers. These are increasingly being used in conflicts such as the Ukraine Russia war. Countries in conflict zones are buying armed drones to build up their military muscle.

US Drones for India

India has long been in negotiations with the US to buy armed drones. The MQ-9B Predator drones deal was announced during Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to US in June 2023 but was put on hold in December by a US Senate committee pending investigation into an Indian assassination plot on US soil.

On 2 February 2024, the US State Department approved the potential sale of 31 armed drones, missiles and other equipment to India for nearly $4bn. The deal includes the sale of 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles and 310 laser small diameter bombs, communications and surveillance equipment and a precision glide bomb. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems will be the principal contractor for the deal.

Saudi Arabia to buy Chinese Drones

The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) is set to acquire Chinese Wing Loong-10B (WL-10B) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The drone was displayed at the World Defense Show that concluded in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on February 8. The Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group displayed the WL-2 with the Saudi flag printed on its tail Wing (vertical stabilizer).

KSA has been operating the Wing Loong-2 (WL-2) drone since 2017. Pakistan Air Force also has these armed drones on their inventory. It was reported in 2018 that China and Pakistan had agreed to coproduce WL armed drones.

The WL-2 can carry 480 kg (1,058 pounds) of weapons for up to 32 hours. The drone was reportedly used in the Yemeni civil war against the Houthi militia. Drones have become increasingly crucial in Middle East conflicts, and are being used by both non-state and state actors, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, Israel, and Iran. KSA’s acquisition of the WL-10B allows extensive aerial surveillance and reconnaissance missions over land and sea, especially when armed with guided air-to-ground missiles and bombs. 

While the KSA has normalized ties with Iran through a China-brokered deal, its peace with the Houthis remains tenuous at best. 

Turkish Drones for Azerbaijan

Bayraktar Akıncı (Raider) is a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) manufactured by the Turkish defence company Baykar. The first three units entered service with the Turkish Armed Forces on 29 August 2021. The drone has a 5.5+ ton maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), of which over 1,350 kg (2,980 lb) is payload. Akıncı is equipped with two turboprop engines of either 450 hp (460 PS; 340 kW) or 750 hp (760 PS; 560 kW), as well as electronic support and ECM systems, dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, collision avoidance radar, and advanced synthetic-aperture radar.

Pakistan purchased the first batch of Bayraktar Akinci combat drones in April 2023. On February 9, this year it was reported that Azerbaijan has purchased new Akinci UCAV from Turkey and pressed them into service with the Azerbaijani Army.

Meanwhile Turkish defence company Baykar has started building a factory near Kyiv that will employ around 500 people. This plant will manufacture either its TB2 or TB3 drone models.