A 2 ft x 2 ft Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) weighing 10 kg was flown over the dense forests of the Maoist-affected Bastar region of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday night.
This was the first time a UAV was tested on the directions of the Union Home Ministry to assess its efficacy in tracking Maoists nine days after the rebels killed 76 security personnel in Dantewada district.
The micro aerial vehicle (a small UAV) flew over the jungles of north Bastar around the Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of UAVs in providing real-time intelligence and detection capability during low illumination and at night across vast stretches of dense forests and rugged inhospitable terrain.
Wednesday’s test flight was carried out by American company Honeywell, which has bigger and more advanced versions of UAVs.
CRPF special director-general Vijay Raman told HT that an expert panel evaluated the efficacy of the UAV during the trial. “The report of the panel would be submitted to the Home Ministry for further course of action and decision,” he said.