A few days ago, the Indian Navy's surveillance drone, MQ-9B Predator, made a controlled ditching in the sea near Chennai. The American company General Atomics will now provide a new drone to ensure that the Navy's mission continues uninterrupted. As per the deal with the Indian Navy, the crashed drone must be replaced as soon as possible.
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Source: aajtak
On September 18, 2024, the HALE-RPA (High Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft) operating from the Naval base INS Rajali in Arakkonam near Chennai encountered some technical issues during a routine surveillance flight. Unable to reset the flight, the drone was safely brought down in a controlled manner into the sea, an action termed as controlled ditching.
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The drone is required to fly a specified number of missions each month. This drone was procured by the Indian Navy under an emergency contract with the US in 2020. A detailed report has been requested from the OEM. India plans to acquire 31 more such drones, capable of handling highly dangerous missions and surveillance over seas and borders.
