Guard of Honor given to US Defense Minister who arrived in India: Bilateral meeting with Rajnath

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in India on Sunday on a two-day visit. He has been given a guard of honor on Monday. After this Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had a bilateral meeting with Lloyd Austin. According to reports, during Austin's visit, there may be talks on the purchase of 30 MQ-9B drones from India's US.
Last year, Dr. Vivek Lal, CEO of General Atomics Global Corporation, the company that made the MQ-9B drone, told that the talks between the two governments on the purchase of this drone are in the last phase. These 30 drones will be used to enhance surveillance and security along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and India's maritime border.
The Pentagon has issued a statement regarding Lloyd Austin's visit to India. In it has been told that this tour will strengthen the defense partnership between the two countries. The two leaders will also discuss the growing interference of China in the Indo-Pacific and LAC.
This visit of Lloyd Austin is happening 15 days before PM Modi's visit to America. This is Lloyd Austin's second visit to India. Earlier he had come to India in 2021. In the last few years, the strategic and defense partnership between the two countries has strengthened.
The MQ-9B drone is an advanced version of the MQ-9 'reaper' drone. Last year it was used to fire a Hellfire missile at Kabul, Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed by this missile. It is also believed to have been used by the US to find Osama bin Laden. However, then its old version was used. The version India is going to buy is said to be the most advanced drone in the world.
This drone can stay in the air for about 35 hours. It is fully remote-controlled. Two people are needed for this. It can monitor an area of 1900 km once it takes off. According to sources, it can fly 482 kilometers in an hour. Its wingspan is 65 feet 7 inches and its height is 12 feet 6 inches.
First agreement - In 2016, LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement) was signed between India and America. Under this, the armies of both countries can use each other's military bases for repairing and supplying weapons.
The second agreement – COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) was signed in 2018. Under this, the armies of both countries can sell technology to each other. Also can work together to complete an operation or goal.
The third agreement- BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) was signed between the two countries in 2020. Through this, an agreement was reached between the two countries to share military technology, logistics, and maps.