An MQ-9B drone, leased by the Indian Navy from the United States, has crashed in the Bay of Bengal. The cause of the crash remains unknown, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The drone, which was being controlled from a naval base in Tamil Nadu, was designated for intelligence gathering and surveillance operations across a wide area of the Indian Ocean. Defense experts consider this incident a significant setback for India's maritime surveillance and intelligence capabilities in the region.
This event comes at a crucial time as India is in talks with the United States to purchase 31 MQ-9B drones in a deal valued at approximately $3.1 billion. The Indian Navy is also discussing additional defense equipment acquisitions with the U.S. to enhance its capabilities, particularly in response to China's growing maritime presence.
The MQ-9B was the first military drone leased to India by the United States. This incident has prompted discussions about the Indian armed forces' ability to handle advanced military technology effectively.
Previous incidents involving crashes of Indian Air Force aircraft and accidents with naval ships and submarines have raised similar concerns about the operational readiness of India's military forces.
As India continues to pursue advanced weaponry, this latest incident may lead to increased scrutiny of the country's capacity to operate and maintain sophisticated military equipment.
