In a significant development, India has signed a $4 billion deal with the United States to acquire 31 Predator drones from American defense manufacturer General Atomics. The diverse deployment plan, which includes variants for the Navy, Air Force, and Army, emphasizes India's commitment to strengthen its maritime and aerial defense strategies. With the inclusion of a maintenance facility in India, this landmark agreement also paves the way for enhanced technology transfer and indigenous defense capabilities. This procurement marks a pivotal moment in India-US defense relations and comes as a crucial step in bolstering India's defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region.