Incident occurred in Indian ocean where drone, controlled from Tamil Nadu naval base was deployed for reconnaissance

"A High Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft (HALE RPA) leased by the Indian Navy operating from INS Rajali, Arakkonam (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 said in a statement.

A high-altitude-long-endurance MQ-9B Sea Guardian drone that was taken on lease by the Indian Navy from the U.S. ditched into the Bay of Bengal off Chennai after encountering a technical failure on Wednesday (September 18, 2024). The drone was operating from naval air station INS Rajali in Arakkonam near Chennai, the Indian Navy said.

An MQ-9B SeaGuardian drone, leased by the Indian Navy, was ditched into the Bay of Bengal following a technical malfunction during a surveillance mission and has been deemed unsalvageable.

A US-leased MQ-9B drone operated by the Indian Navy crashes in the Bay of Bengal, raising questions about India's drone capabilities and ongoing defense negotiations.

Capable of operating at an altitude of 40,000 feet, the MQ-9B UAVs have an endurance of 40 hours and a range of more than 5,000 nautical miles.

An Indian Navy MQ-9B Sea Guardian drone, leased from General Atomics, experienced a technical failure during a surveillance mission near Chennai. The drone was safely ditched at sea. The Navy is investigating the incident as India plans to procure 31 MQ-9B Predator drones for enhanced surveillance.