US President Joe Biden addressed the controversy over mysterious drones spotted in New Jersey on December 18. Responding to former President Trump’s concerns about the drones, Biden reassured the public, saying there is "nothing nefarious" about them and that there is no immediate danger. He confirmed that the situation is under investigation. Earlier, Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew claimed on December 11 that the drones could be launched from an Iranian "mothership." However, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh quickly denied this, stating that there is no evidence to support such claims. Biden's comments aimed to ease public concerns while the investigation continues.
18 December,2024 05:31 PM IST
There's a wolf terror in UP which has scared people in the region for the past two months. The Forest Department has managed to capture 3 wolves so far, and is actively working to catch the remaining ones. The administration is trying new methods to capture these wolves as the terror of man-eating wolves has continued. Meanwhile, the Forest Department on Aug 28 deployed an infrared drone to trace the wolves in Bahraich. Divisional Forest Officer, said that the drones have captured the movement of two wolves near the village. Residents of around 30 villages have been enduring sleepless nights for the last 6 weeks to protect their children. BJP MLA of Mahasi Sureshwar Singh was seen guarding his village holding a rifle to protect the residents. According to the district administration, eight people have been killed in the past two months.
29 August,2024 12:50 PM IST
The Indian Army and the Air Force are planning to jointly deploy MQ-9B Predator drones at two key air bases for upgrading their surveillance capabilities all along the Line of Actual Control with China from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. The drone deal, expected to be worth around USD 4 billion is being done at tri services level with the Indian Navy leading the negotiations for it with the American side. "The MQ-9B drones require a significant runway length for take off and landing which are available with the Indian Air Force. That is why, the Army drones are planned to be deployed with the IAF at airbases in Sarsawa and Gorakhpur," defence officials told ANI. As per of the drone deal with the US, 31 MQ-9B drones are being acquired of which 15 would be for coverage of the maritime zone and would be deployed by the Indian Navy. The IAF and the Army will have eight each of these highly capable long endurance drones and would be able to cover almost all the areas of interest along the LAC with support from other existing assets, the officials said. The American side has given its letter of acceptance to the Indian side at a price tag of around USD 4 billion. There is also a provision of transfer of technology of some equipment to Indian entities under the agreement, they said. With a flight time of over 36 hours at heights over 40,000 feet, the drones can be armed with Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs, this fighter-sized drone specializes in (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) missions. The Predator drones are expected to significantly enhance India's ability to conduct unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and along its land borders with China and Pakistan. MQ-9B has proven to be a critical asset in safeguarding India's security interests as it was used to extensively to monitor anti-piracy operations from naval headquarters to get a clear picture of the actions taking place almost 3,000 km from Indian shores.
06 May,2024 11:52 AM IST
Police personnel deployed at the Shambhu (Punjab-Haryana) border in Ambala fired tear gas at the protesting farmers on February 13 who were carrying out the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march. Drones were used to drop tear gas shells on protesting farmers. The farmer unions have put forward several demands ahead of the government including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price. Security at several entry points to Delhi has been intensified given the farmers’ protest march.
13 February,2024 03:13 PM IST
India's deal with the US of almost USD 4 billion, paving the way for the acquisition of 31 state-of-the-art MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones, will not only propel India's defence capabilities but also ensure a 16-fold increase in the number of aircraft, significantly enhancing New Delhi's maritime security beyond the current lease agreement. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller shed light on the recently approved foreign military sale of MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft to India. He said, "I cannot give a timeline. This was the initial step today. Notifying Congress of the exact timeline of the delivery is something that we will explore with the government of India over the coming months. "Highlighting the significance of the deal, Miller emphasised,"Almost USD 4 billion sale of 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian aircraft will provide India with enhanced maritime security and maritime domain awareness capability. It offers India outright ownership and a 16-fold increase in the number of aircraft as compared to their current lease. "The Biden administration has today notified the US Congress of its intent to sell nearly 4 billion dollars worth of arms, comprising mainly MQ-9B drones armed with Hellfire missiles. The defence security cooperation agency, which is an agency within the US Department of Defence, said in a press release on Thursday that the sale helps in strengthening the US-Indian Strategic Relationship. It added that New Delhi continues to be an "important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region." Watch the full video for more details!
02 February,2024 03:07 PM IST
US Dept of Defense made a shocking claim and held Iran responsible for the India drone strike on the India-bound merchant vessel. Further, the Pentagon statement also claimed that it was the “seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021”. A suspected drone attacked an India-bound ship in the Arabian Sea near Gujarat coast on December 23. MV Chem Pluto, a merchant ship, commenced its voyage from UAE on Dec 19 and was expected to reach New Mangalore port on Dec 25. Soon after getting hit, the merchant vessel immediately caught fire; however, no casualties have been reported so far. Notably, 20 Indians were onboard the ship during the incident that took place 217 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast. Reacting sharply to it, the Indian Navy and ICG didn’t waste any time and charged towards the MV Chem Pluto for assistance. The vessel is likely to enter Mumbai and seek escort assistance due to steering issues. Indian Coast Guard Ship Vikram will be escorting the ship during its passage. The Indian Coast Guard Operations Centre is monitoring the situation closely.
03 January,2024 02:22 PM IST
Days after, MV Chem Pluto, a merchant ship, was hit by a suspected drone strike in the Arabian Sea near Gujarat coast on Dec 23, India has issued a stern warning to the attackers of the merchant vessels near the Indian sea borders. Defence Minister, in an event in Mumbai, openly said about the India drone strike that “they will hunt down the culprits from the bottom of the sea.” Moreover, Indian Navy also assured that they will take ‘robust action’ and will intensify monitoring. Notably, 20 Indians were onboard the ship during the incident that took place 217 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast. While, no one has claimed responsibility for the drone strike in the Arabian sea, US Central Command claimed that the drone attack was fired by Iran-backed Houthi militants. Houthi forces in Yemen have been targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea, claiming the attacks as revenge against Israel. However, the Indian Navy on Dec 24 clarified that it wasn’t an India-flagged vessel, as claimed by the US earlier. India, a strong advocate for the free movement of commercial shipping, is monitoring these attacks.
27 December,2023 01:39 PM IST
Days after the drone attack on merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto on Dec 23, the vessel safely reached Mumbai on Dec 25. Soon the vessel reached Mumbai, latest images emerging from the vessel showed the damage caused by the drone attack. The merchant ship, MV Chem Pluto reached Mumbai for damage assessment, repair, and maintenance. Analysis was carried out by Indian Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Team followed by a joint investigation by various agencies. MV Chem Pluto, with 20 Indian and one Vietnamese crew member on Dec 23 caught fire after it was attacked by a suspected drone. The merchant vessel commenced its voyage from the UAE on Dec 19 and was bound for New Mangalore port with an arrival date of Dec 25. Soon after the India drone attack, the Indian Navy deployed multiple Guided Missile Destroyers in various areas of the Arabian Sea. Indian Navy deployed INS Mormugao, INS Kochi, and INS Kolkata to maintain deterrence. Meanwhile, MV Chem Pluto has been cleared for further operation by its company-in-charge in Mumbai. Houthi forces in Yemen have been targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea, claiming the attacks as revenge against Israel. Meanwhile, India, a strong advocate for the free movement of commercial shipping, is monitoring these attacks.
26 December,2023 11:30 AM IST
MV Chem Pluto, a merchant ship, was hit by a suspected drone strike in the Arabian Sea near Gujarat coast on December 23. After getting hit, the merchant vessel immediately caught fire; however, no casualties have been reported so far in this India drone strike. Notably, 20 Indians were onboard the ship during the incident that took place 217 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast. After getting the information, the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard didn’t waste any time and charged towards the MV Chem Pluto for distress. Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Vikram and the Indian Navy’s warships in the vicinity moved towards the distressed vessel. The Indian Navy’s P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft and Indian Coast Guard Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft established communication with the distressed vessel MV Chem Pluto in no time.
24 December,2023 12:37 PM IST
Israel-Hamas Conflict
The US warship shot down three Houthi rebels’ drones headed in the ship’s direction in the Red Sea on Dec 04. As per US Central Command, Arleigh-Burke Class destroyer USS CARNEY responded to distress calls from the ships, provided assistance. The attacks marked an escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war. For the first time in the conflict, multiple vessels found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi’s assault. US Central Command condemned the attack and called it a “direct threat to international commerce, maritime security”. While, the US believed that these attacks launched by the Houthis in the Red Sea from Yemen, were fully “enabled by Iran”. Yemen's Houthi Rebels claimed that drone and missile attacks were on “two Israeli vessels” in the southern Red Sea
04 December,2023 02:40 PM IST | MumbaiADVERTISEMENT
