SOURCE: AFI

In a swift response to an operational mishap, U.S. defense firm General Atomics has replaced the MQ-9B SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) that crashed into the Bay of Bengal on September 18. The incident was attributed to a power failure, leading to the drone being declared unsalvageable and written off.
A technical glitch involving a power failure was the reason behind the controlled ditching of the drone, preventing any reset in flight. The drone, while on a routine surveillance mission, was safely maneuvered to a designated spot over the sea off the coast of Chennai before it was intentionally ditched.
Under a lease agreement initiated in 2020 with the Indian Navy, General Atomics has been responsible for operating two MQ-9B SeaGuardians. These drones have been crucial in providing comprehensive surveillance capabilities over the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The drones operate from the naval air station Rajali in Tamil Nadu, where they have been stationed to enhance the Navy’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The MQ-9B SeaGuardian has played a pivotal role, especially with escalating tensions in the region, providing the Indian Navy with an eye in the sky for monitoring activities, from piracy to potential military maneuvers by adversaries.
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