India joined the Eurodrone program as an observer country, the European Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) announced on January 21, 2025. 

The Government of India submitted an official request on August 27, 2024, to become an OCCAR Observer State in the Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (MALE RPAS) program, commonly referred to as Eurodrone or Euromale.  

This request was subsequently approved, with a Letter of Approval presented to the Indian Ambassador to Germany Ajit Gupte by OCCAR-EA Director Joachim Sucker, during a ceremony at the Indian Embassy in Berlin. 

India’s Observer Status marks the initiation of what OCCAR envisions as a “long, fruitful, and mutually beneficial cooperation” between the European defense consortium and one of Asia’s key geopolitical players. 

Japan was also accepted as an OCCAR Observer State in the Eurodrone program in November 2023.  

In February 2024, India secured an order for up to 31 General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones from the United States. 

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