Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit, hectic efforts were being made by Washington to bring the long-stuck armed drone deal to the negotiating table. It is learnt that Washington was pushing hard for the deal to materialise by asking New Delhi to give up its hard stance of including a ‘Make in India’ clause.

The Defence Acquisition Council, India’s highest body for defence procurement headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh, gave the nod for the purchase of around 30 MQ9 Sea Guardian drones (also known as Predator B drones) from the US through the foreign military sales route of the US government. The Sea Guardian drones are manufactured by General Atomics of the US.

However, the defence ministry has only given an Acceptance of Necessity, which is the first stage of any military procurement. The deal will require the approval of the US Congress before being placed before India’s Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by the prime minister, for a final go-ahead. In between, cost negotiations and other defence procurement procedures will be handled by the two sides. There is also no clarity yet on the Make in India clause.