IAF’s Rs 80-cr UAV crashes near Bhuj

The aerial vehicle after the crash. (Source: Express Photo)

An unmanned aerial vehicle  (UAV) of the Indian Air Force (IAF), used for surveillance, crashed at Mankunva village near Bhuj town in Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday. Defence PRO, Wing Commandar Abhishek Matiman, said, “It is a Heron UAV that crashed near Bhuj. The IAF is looking into the reasons behind the crash and a court of inquiry has been ordered. According to Bhuj Superintendent of Police D N Patel, there was no casualty  reported due to the crash.

IAF officials said that the UAV was in air for the last few months for its routine work of surveillance, security, collecting and providing information to the Air Force on movements around the air base. The officials said it was suspected that there was a technical fault that led to the crash.

After the crash, the scared villagers raised an alarm. The IAF officials and Bhuj police rushed to the spot. IAF officials are inspecting the spot after which the debris would be cleared. The cost of the Heron UAV is approximately Rs 80 crore.

Heron is a medium-altitude UAV developed by Malat division of Israel Aerospace Industries. It is capable of medium altitude long endurance operations of up to 52 hours’ duration. It was acquired by India from Israel.