What Caused The MQ-9B SeaGuardian To Ditch In The Bay Of Bengal?

An MQ-9B SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), leased by the Indian Navy from the United States, was ditched into the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday due to a technical malfunction encountered during a surveillance mission, according to the navy's statement.

The MQ-9B SeaGuardian, it has been learned, is unsalvageable and will be written off.

MQ-9B SeaGuardian To Ditch In The Bay Of Bengal

The aircraft, which is a variant of the Predator B drones developed by US firm General Atomics, had been leased four years ago by the navy to enhance its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities over the vast Indian Ocean region (IOR). It had been operated from the naval air station Rajali in Tamil Nadu.

Ditching, which refers to an emergency water landing, was carried out after a technical failure occurred during the flight at around 1400 hrs, preventing the glitch from being reset while in flight, as stated by the navy. A controlled ditching at sea off Chennai was executed after the aircraft was navigated to a safe area. The navy has requested a detailed report from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), General Atomics, to investigate the issue further, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Under the lease agreement, the two RPAs leased by the Indian Navy have been operated by the OEM to provide continuous surveillance of the Indian Ocean region. Following this incident, General Atomics will be required to replace the lost RPA to ensure that the navy's surveillance needs are met, as per the agreement.

The RPAs have been crucial in enabling the navy to monitor the IOR closely, especially amid increasing Chinese ambitions in the region, as reported by Hindustan Times. These two MQ-9Bs had completed over 18,000 hours of flight time together before the incident.

This occurrence takes place at a critical moment when India is in the process of negotiating the purchase of 31 MQ-9B drones from the United States in a deal valued at approximately $3.1 billion. This acquisition is intended to bolster the Indian military's overall capabilities, with 15 UAVs designated for the Navy and eight each for the Army and Air Force. The deal includes weaponry, sensors, ground control stations, and logistics support.

The MQ-9Bs, which are capable of operating at altitudes of up to 40,000 feet, have an endurance of 40 hours and can cover over 5,000 nautical miles. Apart from ISR, the UAVs are expected to fulfil roles such as electronic warfare, defensive counter-air, and airborne early warning. The RPAs will also be equipped with onboard weapons, giving them strike capabilities, as per media reports.

The MQ-9B had been the first military equipment to be leased by India after the government's Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020 allowed for the leasing of military hardware as a cost-effective alternative to direct purchase. The navy's surveillance efforts in the IOR, spanning millions of square kilometres, have been supported by these platforms, with warships patrolling from the Persian Gulf to the Strait of Malacca and from the northern Bay of Bengal to the southeastern coast of Africa.