ISLAMABAD: An Israeli-manufactured IAI Searcher Mark II unmanned aerial vehicle operated by the Indian Air Force crashed on Wednesday morning in an open field near Ramgarh town in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. Local administration confirmed the incident following a sudden engine malfunction during a routine surveillance mission along the western border.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the drone spiralling before it plummeted and burst into flames upon impact. The wreckage was scattered over a radius of approximately 200 metres in agricultural land, prompting immediate deployment of army and air force technical teams to secure the site and recover sensitive equipment.
No casualties were reported as the crash site was in an unpopulated area. Indian authorities have initiated a court of inquiry to determine the exact cause of the mechanical failure. The IAI Searcher has been in service with the Indian Air Force since the late 1990s for reconnaissance purposes.
Such incidents highlight ongoing technical challenges faced by ageing UAV fleets in extreme desert conditions prevalent in the Rajasthan sector.
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Source: www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iaf-drone-crashes-in-jaisalmer-101732148526789.html”>https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iaf-drone-crashes-in-jaisalmer-101732148526789.html
Source: www.thehindu.com/news/national/iaf-searcher-uav-crashes-in-rajasthan/article68901234.ece”>https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/iaf-searcher-uav-crashes-in-rajasthan/article68901234.ece