Bengaluru: As the border standoff with China escalates, the Indian Navy has inducted two Predator drones from an American firm on lease for carrying out surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region. This can also be deployed along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.
These have been inducted in the Navy under the emergency procurement powers bestowed on it by the defence ministry, reports add.
“The drones had arrived in the second week of November and were inducted into flying operation on November 21 at Indian Navy base at INS Rajali,” ANI quoted a top government official as saying.
The sources claimed that the drones have already started carrying out their flying operations and have an endurance capability of remaining in the air for over 30 hours. The advanced drones are proving to be a significant asset reinforcing the strength of India’s maritime forces, the sources said.
Along with the Predator drones, an American crew from the vendor have also come along to help the Navy in carrying out smooth operation of the machines.