An MQ-9B Sea Guardian drone, leased by the Indian Navy , experienced a "technical failure" during a surveillance mission on Wednesday, officials reported. The drone was operating out of the naval air station INS Rajali, located in Arakkonam near Chennai.
The Indian Navy had originally leased two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones from US-based defense company General Atomics in 2020 for a one-year period to enhance surveillance capabilities in the Indian Ocean , a lease that has since been extended.
According to an official statement from the Navy, "The high-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft encountered a technical failure at approximately 2 pm during a routine surveillance mission, which could not be reset in flight." The drone was guided to a safe area and underwent a controlled ditching at sea, off the coast of Chennai.
Controlled ditching refers to an emergency landing on water, often executed as a last resort during mechanical failures. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The Navy has requested a detailed report from the drone's original equipment manufacturer (OEM), General Atomics, which has been responsible for maintaining the leased drones.
This incident comes as India is finalizing plans to purchase 31 MQ-9B Predator drones at a cost of around USD 3 billion, aimed at bolstering surveillance, particularly along the contested border with China. In June 2023, the Defence Ministry approved the procurement under a government-to-government deal with the U.S.
The MQ-9B drone, a variant of the MQ-9 "Reaper," is known for its use in targeted strikes, including the July 2022 operation that eliminated al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul.
The Indian Navy had originally leased two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones from US-based defense company General Atomics in 2020 for a one-year period to enhance surveillance capabilities in the Indian Ocean , a lease that has since been extended.
According to an official statement from the Navy, "The high-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft encountered a technical failure at approximately 2 pm during a routine surveillance mission, which could not be reset in flight." The drone was guided to a safe area and underwent a controlled ditching at sea, off the coast of Chennai.
Controlled ditching refers to an emergency landing on water, often executed as a last resort during mechanical failures. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The Navy has requested a detailed report from the drone's original equipment manufacturer (OEM), General Atomics, which has been responsible for maintaining the leased drones.
This incident comes as India is finalizing plans to purchase 31 MQ-9B Predator drones at a cost of around USD 3 billion, aimed at bolstering surveillance, particularly along the contested border with China. In June 2023, the Defence Ministry approved the procurement under a government-to-government deal with the U.S.
The MQ-9B drone, a variant of the MQ-9 "Reaper," is known for its use in targeted strikes, including the July 2022 operation that eliminated al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul.
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