India to sign Rs 32,000 crore Predator drone deal with US tomorrow

India and the US are all set to sign a Rs 32,000 crore deal for the purchase of 31 Predator drones for the Indian defence forces on Tuesday.
The project was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last week under which 15 birds will go to the Indian Navy while the rest would be divided equally between the Air Force and the Army.
The Foreign Military Sales contract with the US government for 31 Predator drones and the MRO is scheduled to be signed tomorrow, defence officials informed India Today.
The American team of military and corporate officials are in town for the signing of these contracts, the officials said.
Top Indian defence officials, including Joint Secretary and Acquisition Manager for the naval systems are set to be present at the signing ceremony, they said.
India has been discussing the deal with the US for last many years but the final hurdles were cleared a few weeks ago at the Defence Acquisition Council meeting as it had to be cleared before October 31 as the validity of the American proposal was till that time only.
India would be basing the drones at four possible location including INS Rajali near Chennai, Porbandar in Gujarat, Sarsawa and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.