An MQ-9B Sea Guardian drone leased by the Indian Navy from the United States was intentionally ditched into the Bay of Bengal after encountering a technical failure during a routine surveillance mission on Wednesday, September 18. The high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) drone was operating from the naval air station INS Rajali in Arakkonam, near Chennai, when the incident occurred.
According to an official statement released by the Indian Navy, the drone experienced a technical failure at approximately 1400 hours, which could not be resolved in-flight. “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.
To ensure safety, the drone was navigated to a designated safe zone over the Bay of Bengal, where it was deliberately ditched into the sea in a controlled manner. “The aircraft was navigated to a safe area over sea and carried out a controlled ditching at sea off Chennai. A detailed report has been sought from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM),” the statement added.
The MQ-9B Sea Guardian, a variant of the MQ-9 “Reaper,” was leased by the Indian Navy from the US-based defence company General Atomics in 2020 for conducting surveillance missions in the Indian Ocean region. Although the initial lease was set for a duration of one year, it has been extended due to the Navy’s continued operational requirements. General Atomics is responsible for operating and maintaining the drones as part of the lease agreement.
As per the terms of the contract, the company is expected to replace the lost drone with a new one, ensuring uninterrupted surveillance capabilities for the Indian Navy. The technical failure and subsequent loss of the drone come at a critical time, as India is moving ahead with plans to purchase 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from the United States, at an estimated cost of $3 billion. These drones are intended to strengthen India’s surveillance capabilities, particularly along its border with China, which has seen increased tensions in recent years.
In June 2023, the Indian Defence Ministry approved the acquisition of the MQ-9B Predator drones through a government-to-government agreement with the US. The deal, seen as a major upgrade to India’s drone fleet, is expected to boost the military’s ability to monitor vast stretches of the Indian Ocean and contested border areas. The MQ-9B, an advanced variant of the MQ-9 “Reaper,” is equipped with cutting-edge surveillance systems and can carry precision-guided munitions.
The Reaper drone has been used in high-profile military operations, including the modified Hellfire missile strike that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul in July 2022. The Indian Navy’s planned procurement of the Predator drones is seen as a significant enhancement of its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, allowing it to better monitor and protect its maritime borders.