SOURCE: AFI
A Predator drone operated by the Indian Navy suffered a technical failure and crashed into the sea off the Chennai coast last week. The incident occurred during a routine surveillance mission on Wednesday afternoon.
The drone, an MQ-9B Predator leased from the American firm General Atomics, experienced a malfunction in its power generators and onboard batteries. Despite attempts to resolve the issue in flight, the drone’s crew was unable to restore its systems. To prevent further damage or potential hazards, the drone was deliberately guided to a safe area over the sea, where it was ditched in a controlled manner.
According to the terms of the contract between the Indian Navy and General Atomics, the U.S. firm is obligated to replace the crashed drone. The agreement, signed in 2020, stipulates a specific number of flight hours each month, and the Navy relies on the Predator drones to fulfill its operational requirements. Officials have emphasized that the missions cannot be completed by a single drone, and the replacement is expected to arrive soon.
The incident serves as a reminder of the inherent risks associated with operating unmanned aerial vehicles, even with advanced technology. While the Indian Navy has taken steps to mitigate such risks, the occasional technical failure is a possibility. The timely replacement of the crashed drone will ensure that the Navy’s surveillance capabilities remain uninterrupted.