India’s super-secret drone war over the Maoist corridor is stalling because air force pilots have shot down plans to be relocated in the region citing lifestyle concerns, intelligence sources have told Firstpost. Twelve Israeli-made Searcher tactical drones committed to intelligence gathering over the violence-torn Chhattisgarh-Orissa border — part of an $220 million fleet — have been operating at the extremities of their range from a base near Hyderabad, leaving them little time to hover over their targets.
Last year, the sources said, the air force rejected calls for the fleet to be relocated at Jagdalpur — not far from the site of Saturday’s murderous Maoist ambush, which killed at least 27, including top Congress leader Mahendra Karma. The Air Force, sources said, argued that living facilities at the Defence Research and Development Organisation-run airstrip in Jagdalpur did not meet the standards its pilots expected.
26/05/13 Praveen Swami/First Post.com
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Last year, the sources said, the air force rejected calls for the fleet to be relocated at Jagdalpur — not far from the site of Saturday’s murderous Maoist ambush, which killed at least 27, including top Congress leader Mahendra Karma. The Air Force, sources said, argued that living facilities at the Defence Research and Development Organisation-run airstrip in Jagdalpur did not meet the standards its pilots expected.
26/05/13 Praveen Swami/First Post.com
