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The failure of power generators and batteries on board the MQ-9B Predator drones operated for the Indian Navy by an American firm led to its crash last week off the Chennai coast.
Last Wednesday, the drone had to be safely and deliberately ditched or crashed over the sea off Chennai after it faced technical issues to avoid any damage on ground. The power generators and batteries failed during the flight of the drone. That is why the drone had to be safely ditched over sea, defence sources told ANI. The drone was lost as it had crashed in the sea, they said. The Navy after the crash had stated that the MQ-9B Predator encountered a technical failure on Wednesday, after which the aircraft was navigated to a safe area over the sea and carried out a controlled ditching at sea off Chennai. "A High Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft (HALE RPA) leased by the Indian Navy operating from INS Rajali, Arakonnam (near Chennai) encountered a technical failure at about 1400 hrs whilst on a routine surveillance mission which could not be reset in flight," the Navy had said. Later, the aircraft was navigated to a safe area over the sea and carried out a controlled ditching at sea off Chennai, it stated. "A detailed report has been sought from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)," it added. "The MQ-9B Predator drones (HALE RPA) flying for the Indian Navy are operated by General Atomics under a lease agreement between the Indian Navy and the American firm. The Indian side pays only for the services provided by the vendor and the drones are flown by the pilots from the vendor side. The Indian side has asked for a detailed report from the vendors on the accident," Navy officials had said. (ANI)
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