After years of tension and exclusion, it seems Pakistan&rsquo;s Pashtuns &ndash; the country&rsquo;s second-largest ethnic group &ndash; have had enough. In January, a large crowd began protesting after 27-year-old shopkeeper Naqibullah Mehsud was shot dead by a police officer in Karachi.

The protesters marched from Khyber Patunkhwa province to Islamabad, where they staged a sit-in protest in front of the National Press Club. Although the sit-in has ended, protests have erupted elsewhere in Pakistan, and the movement has variously become known as the Pashtun Long March and the Pashtun Spring.

The protesters are demanding the arrest and punishment of Rao Anwar, the police officer who killed Naqibullah. They are further demanding an end to what they call state-imposed terrorism and militarism justified by War on Terror rhetoric. Other demands include the clearing of landmines in the tribal areas, and the return of missing people who have been taken into custody by Pakistani security forces.

These demands are expressed in the language of human rights, and have received the support of leading Pakistani politicians, including opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto.

Pakistani authorities claimed that Naqibullah was a member of the Pakistani Taliban. The claim was later dropped. According to Human Rights Watch, extrajudicial killings by Pakistani police are widespread, especially among marginalised groups. These include Pashtuns, more than 1m of whom are Afghan refugees.

Across the border

Pakistan&rsquo;s prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, has reportedly promised to use all available means to secure Rao Anwar&rsquo;s arrest. He also vowed to build a college to be named after Naqibullah Mehsud, and clear South Waziristan of landmines.

The size and public visibility of the protest is unprecedented, but calls for Pashtun rights are not new. One protest leader, Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen from South Waziristan, is a co-founder of the Mehsud Tahafuz Movement (Mehsud Protection Movement). This movement has fought for the rights of the Pashtun Mehsud tribe in South Waziristan since 2013.

Around 25m Pashtuns live in Pakistan and around 11m in Afghanistan. In 1893, British India imposed the Durand Line, a 2,640km border between Afghanistan and today&rsquo;s Pakistan. The line bolstered British territorial control on its side of the line, which divides historical Pashtun areas. Afghanistan has never officially acknowledged this border.

Whereas Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, they are economically and politically marginalised in Pakistan. The tribal area they inhabit there borders Afghanistan to the west, and it has become a major front in the War on Terror. Pakistan routinely associates Pashtuns and Afghan refugees with the Taliban and Islamist terrorism.

Us and them

The protests have come along just as Pakistan and Afghanistan&rsquo;s relationship is deteriorating. In 2016, chafing at Afghanistan&rsquo;s deepening relationship with India, Pakistan deported more than 500,000 Afghans. Conversely, when Afghan officials discuss the Pashtun protest, they often resort to nationalist language.

Ahmad Shah Katawazai, defence liaison at the Afghan embassy in the US, has called for Pakistani Pashtun areas to be incorporated wholesale into Afghanistan. As he writes in American newspaper The Hill:

The government and people of Afghanistan have consistently asked for the territory to be re-incorporated into Afghanistan. People who live along the Durand Line don&rsquo;t consider it to be a border.

Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have tried to frame their respective approaches to the protest as beneficial for the War on Terror. Afghanistan&rsquo;s president, Ashraf Ghani, has supported the protest as a citizen struggle against terrorism and fundamentalism.&nbsp;

The protesters have a tough road ahead. They have to navigate between human rights demands, Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, and the politics of the War on Terror. Yet it is undeniable that the protests are in themselves a victory of sorts for this marginalised group. As the columnist Raza Rumi writes in Pakistan&rsquo;s Daily Times:

The Pashtun long march and its ten-day long protest in Pakistan&rsquo;s capital Islamabad testifies to how the marginalised are negotiating the contradictions of today&rsquo;s Pakistan. The people of [Federally Administered Tribal Areas] continue to be treated as second-class citizens and all talk of &lsquo;reform&rsquo; founders at expediency of the civil-military elites. Youngsters from tribal areas are less willing to engage with the state structures as their elders have done in the past. Ethnicity-based politics will remain a reality and it needs to be accepted by powers-that-be. Democratisation, howsoever flawed it might be, enables reconciliation of multiple political and social identities.

It seems that for Pakistan&rsquo;s Pashtuns, the odds of change for the better could finally be shifting in their favour.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Pakistans's Pashtun protesters are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. Yet they have to navigate between human rights demands, Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, and the politics of the War on Terror

After years of tension and exclusion, it seems Pakistan’s Pashtuns – the country’s second-largest ethnic group – have had enough. In January, a large crowd began protesting after 27-year-old shopkeeper Naqibullah Mehsud was shot dead by a police officer in Karachi. The protesters marched from Khyber Patunkhwa province to Islamabad, where they staged a sit-in protest in front of the National Press Club. Although the sit-in has ended, protests have erupted elsewhere in Pakistan, and the movement has variously become known as the Pashtun Long March and the Pashtun Spring. The protesters are demanding the arrest and punishment of Rao Anwar, the police officer who killed Naqibullah. They are further demanding an end to what they call state-imposed terrorism and militarism justified by War on Terror rhetoric. Other demands include the clearing of landmines in the tribal areas, and the return of missing people who have been taken into custody by Pakistani security forces. These demands are expressed in the language of human rights, and have received the support of leading Pakistani politicians, including opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto. Pakistani authorities claimed that Naqibullah was a member of the Pakistani Taliban. The claim was later dropped. According to Human Rights Watch, extrajudicial killings by Pakistani police are widespread, especially among marginalised groups. These include Pashtuns, more than 1m of whom are Afghan refugees. Across the border Pakistan’s prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, has reportedly promised to use all available means to secure Rao Anwar’s arrest. He also vowed to build a college to be named after Naqibullah Mehsud, and clear South Waziristan of landmines. The size and public visibility of the protest is unprecedented, but calls for Pashtun rights are not new. One protest leader, Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen from South Waziristan, is a co-founder of the Mehsud Tahafuz Movement (Mehsud Protection Movement). This movement has fought for the rights of the Pashtun Mehsud tribe in South Waziristan since 2013. Around 25m Pashtuns live in Pakistan and around 11m in Afghanistan. In 1893, British India imposed the Durand Line, a 2,640km border between Afghanistan and today’s Pakistan. The line bolstered British territorial control on its side of the line, which divides historical Pashtun areas. Afghanistan has never officially acknowledged this border. Whereas Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, they are economically and politically marginalised in Pakistan. The tribal area they inhabit there borders Afghanistan to the west, and it has become a major front in the War on Terror. Pakistan routinely associates Pashtuns and Afghan refugees with the Taliban and Islamist terrorism. Us and them The protests have come along just as Pakistan and Afghanistan’s relationship is deteriorating. In 2016, chafing at Afghanistan’s deepening relationship with India, Pakistan deported more than 500,000 Afghans. Conversely, when Afghan officials discuss the Pashtun protest, they often resort to nationalist language. Ahmad Shah Katawazai, defence liaison at the Afghan embassy in the US, has called for Pakistani Pashtun areas to be incorporated wholesale into Afghanistan. As he writes in American newspaper The Hill: The government and people of Afghanistan have consistently asked for the territory to be re-incorporated into Afghanistan. People who live along the Durand Line don’t consider it to be a border. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have tried to frame their respective approaches to the protest as beneficial for the War on Terror. Afghanistan’s president, Ashraf Ghani, has supported the protest as a citizen struggle against terrorism and fundamentalism. The protesters have a tough road ahead. They have to navigate between human rights demands, Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, and the politics of the War on Terror. Yet it is undeniable that the protests are in themselves a victory of sorts for this marginalised group. As the columnist Raza Rumi writes in Pakistan’s Daily Times: The Pashtun long march and its ten-day long protest in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad testifies to how the marginalised are negotiating the contradictions of today’s Pakistan. The people of [Federally Administered Tribal Areas] continue to be treated as second-class citizens and all talk of ‘reform’ founders at expediency of the civil-military elites. Youngsters from tribal areas are less willing to engage with the state structures as their elders have done in the past. Ethnicity-based politics will remain a reality and it needs to be accepted by powers-that-be. Democratisation, howsoever flawed it might be, enables reconciliation of multiple political and social identities. It seems that for Pakistan’s Pashtuns, the odds of change for the better could finally be shifting in their favour. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Pakistan's Pashtuns protest oppression in the name of 'War on Terror'

Drones will now monitor railway projects, aid in crowd management and oversee maintenance work across its zones, railway officials said today.

Cameras (UAV/NETRA) will be used for various railway activities especially project monitoring and maintenance of tracks and other railway infrastructure, the national transporter said in a statement.

&quot;Directions have been given to Zonal Railways to procure such cameras. This is in-line with Railways desire to use technology to enhance safety and efficiency in train operations&quot;, it said.

Unmanned aerial vehicles or drones shall be deployed to undertake monitoring activities of relief and rescue operation, project monitoring, the progress of important works, conditions of the&nbsp;tracks and inspection related activities, the statement said.

It shall also be used to assess the preparedness of non- interlocking (NI) works, crowd management during fairs, to identify scrap and also for the aerial survey of station yards. It is going to be instrumental in providing real-time inputs related to safety and maintenance of tracks and other railway infrastructure.

A drone is essentially a flying robot which can be remotely handled through software-controlled flight plans embedded in its systems working in conjunction with GPS

Unmanned aerial vehicles or drones shall be deployed to undertake monitoring activities of relief and rescue operation

Drones will now monitor railway projects, aid in crowd management and oversee maintenance work across its zones, railway officials said today. Cameras (UAV/NETRA) will be used for various railway activities especially project monitoring and maintenance of tracks and other railway infrastructure, the national transporter said in a statement. "Directions have been given to Zonal Railways to procure such cameras. This is in-line with Railways desire to use technology to enhance safety and efficiency in train operations", it said. Unmanned aerial vehicles or drones shall be deployed to undertake monitoring activities of relief and rescue operation, project monitoring, the progress of important works, conditions of the tracks and inspection related activities, the statement said. It shall also be used to assess the preparedness of non- interlocking (NI) works, crowd management during fairs, to identify scrap and also for the aerial survey of station yards. It is going to be instrumental in providing real-time inputs related to safety and maintenance of tracks and other railway infrastructure. A drone is essentially a flying robot which can be remotely handled through software-controlled flight plans embedded in its systems working in conjunction with GPS

Railways to deploy drones to monitor projects

Around 202 BC in China, a Han dynasty general had flown kites to scare the enemy with the sound of it. In the seventeenth century in India,&nbsp; Shivaji used kites to scale the walls of an enemy fortress. In 1855, a Russian admiral Sir Arthur Cochrane used 12 feet long heavy kites to tow the torpedoes to the enemy boats. Later in the US, Russia and Europe, kites were used to lift humans, deliver messages, drop bombs and explosives over the enemy.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Since then, things have not changed much except that the kites of those times have been replaced by technically advanced drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or, we can also call them, Flying War Robots. The ultra-expensive, man-dependent, heavy military aircrafts have a cheaper, reliable and much more effective replacement available now.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Lightweight drones can now easily defy the territorial boundaries to conduct intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions.&nbsp; They can perform artillery observations, delivery of material and even precision attacks. Their technical advances in terms of greater autonomy, use of Artificial Intelligence and swarming capabilities make the scenario much more threatening. The global forces are operating these machines which are as small as 16gm Black Hornet Nano (a US made UAV) to a massive 40 feet Wingspan Global Hawk UAV which is even bigger than most commercial airliners.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In the last decade, we saw extensive use of drones by America for the bombing operations in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan and they proved to be damn effective. With the least possibility of being detected as they fly at very high altitudes, these steel birds can attack their target with ultra-precision and achieve desired results.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In such a scenario, the million-dollar question is: do these birds really have a strategic implication? The answer is a clear yes. They are just not an example of technical innovation, they are an offensive alternative in the form of cheap, precision-guided vehicle capable of passing any security parameter and attacking nearly any military asset. They are today&rsquo;s Kamikaze Pilots who can attack anywhere.

&nbsp;

However, there is a serious concern. Its ok for us if they are being operated by good guys, but what if they fall into hands of Bad Guys?

&nbsp;

In October 2016, coalition forces in Mosul found ISIS using drones in large number to drop grenades and explosives over Kurdish Forces as well as the coalition army. Sometimes, they were flying over a dozen missions at the same time. And the threat was so severe that the Mosul offensive was to be stalled for many days. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

Since the markets are swarmed with cheap Chinese toys, terror attacks using these small birds cannot be ruled out even in India. A lone wolf can now effectively target even civilian assets like schools, hospitals and public gatherings to cause damage and spread terror.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In Indian scenario, we have a lot to worry. Some of the vehicles openly available in the market are for as low as 8000-10,000 Rupees. It can carry loads of a few kilograms. They can pack a lethal punch in themselves with a little improvisation. Moreover, there is no foolproof detection measure and at times, they are detected once they are within few meters of the target. Terrorists can effectively target our military establishments, parked aircrafts, ammunition and fuel dumps, strategic command centres, inflicting severe damage.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Imagine a 10,000 Rupees drone destroying Rupees 12 billion aircraft with precision.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

They cause serious economic concerns too. In January 2017, the US Forces had to shoot down an ISIS drone by using their $3 Million Patriot Missile. What a joke? What if such drones swarm the sky in a large number? Will any anti-missile defence withstand this? The answer is a clear no.

&nbsp;

Several countries have started developing their own counter-measures against these machines. These range from Laser Shooting, Jamming Rifles, Electronic Counter Measures, Electro-Magnetic Pulse weapons and even live Eagles trained to take out smaller drones.&nbsp;

No matter whatsoever are the technological advances but still, we are far off from an effective countermeasure against these rogue birds, and we have no option but to find a solution at the earliest.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Imagine a 10,000 Rupees drone destroying Rupees 12 billion aircraft with precision.

Around 202 BC in China, a Han dynasty general had flown kites to scare the enemy with the sound of it. In the seventeenth century in India, Shivaji used kites to scale the walls of an enemy fortress. In 1855, a Russian admiral Sir Arthur Cochrane used 12 feet long heavy kites to tow the torpedoes to the enemy boats. Later in the US, Russia and Europe, kites were used to lift humans, deliver messages, drop bombs and explosives over the enemy. Since then, things have not changed much except that the kites of those times have been replaced by technically advanced drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or, we can also call them, Flying War Robots. The ultra-expensive, man-dependent, heavy military aircrafts have a cheaper, reliable and much more effective replacement available now. Lightweight drones can now easily defy the territorial boundaries to conduct intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions. They can perform artillery observations, delivery of material and even precision attacks. Their technical advances in terms of greater autonomy, use of Artificial Intelligence and swarming capabilities make the scenario much more threatening. The global forces are operating these machines which are as small as 16gm Black Hornet Nano (a US made UAV) to a massive 40 feet Wingspan Global Hawk UAV which is even bigger than most commercial airliners. In the last decade, we saw extensive use of drones by America for the bombing operations in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan and they proved to be damn effective. With the least possibility of being detected as they fly at very high altitudes, these steel birds can attack their target with ultra-precision and achieve desired results. In such a scenario, the million-dollar question is: do these birds really have a strategic implication? The answer is a clear yes. They are just not an example of technical innovation, they are an offensive alternative in the form of cheap, precision-guided vehicle capable of passing any security parameter and attacking nearly any military asset. They are today’s Kamikaze Pilots who can attack anywhere. However, there is a serious concern. Its ok for us if they are being operated by good guys, but what if they fall into hands of Bad Guys? In October 2016, coalition forces in Mosul found ISIS using drones in large number to drop grenades and explosives over Kurdish Forces as well as the coalition army. Sometimes, they were flying over a dozen missions at the same time. And the threat was so severe that the Mosul offensive was to be stalled for many days. Since the markets are swarmed with cheap Chinese toys, terror attacks using these small birds cannot be ruled out even in India. A lone wolf can now effectively target even civilian assets like schools, hospitals and public gatherings to cause damage and spread terror. In Indian scenario, we have a lot to worry. Some of the vehicles openly available in the market are for as low as 8000-10,000 Rupees. It can carry loads of a few kilograms. They can pack a lethal punch in themselves with a little improvisation. Moreover, there is no foolproof detection measure and at times, they are detected once they are within few meters of the target. Terrorists can effectively target our military establishments, parked aircrafts, ammunition and fuel dumps, strategic command centres, inflicting severe damage. Imagine a 10,000 Rupees drone destroying Rupees 12 billion aircraft with precision. They cause serious economic concerns too. In January 2017, the US Forces had to shoot down an ISIS drone by using their $3 Million Patriot Missile. What a joke? What if such drones swarm the sky in a large number? Will any anti-missile defence withstand this? The answer is a clear no. Several countries have started developing their own counter-measures against these machines. These range from Laser Shooting, Jamming Rifles, Electronic Counter Measures, Electro-Magnetic Pulse weapons and even live Eagles trained to take out smaller drones. No matter whatsoever are the technological advances but still, we are far off from an effective countermeasure against these rogue birds, and we have no option but to find a solution at the earliest. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: How dangerous are drones in terrorist hands

Headquarters of United States Department of Defense, Pentagon, has given more than 130 US&nbsp;military bases across the United States the green light to shoot down private and commercial drones that could endanger aviation safety or pose other threats.

The uncrewed aircrafts have multiplied in US skies in recent years and continue to increase at a fast rate. &nbsp;U.S. and private-sector officials are concerned that dangerous or even hostile drones could cause disturbance in places like military bases, airports and sports stadiums.

While the specific action that the U.S. military can take against drones remain classified, it will include destroying or seizing private and commercial drones that pose a threat, Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis told reporters on Monday.

The classified guidelines were distributed early last month. The Pentagon sent out unclassified guidance on how to communicate the policy to communities on Friday.

&quot;The increase of commercial and private drones in the United States has raised our concerns with regards to the safety and security of our installations, aviation safety and the safety of people,&quot; Davis said.

In April, flights of drones over 133 US&nbsp;military bases were prohibited for security concerns.

Drones have become popular as toys and with hobbyists, and have commercial uses such as aerial photography. Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc&#39;s Google unit have been utilising drones to deliver online ordered goods ordered.

The Federal Aviation Administration estimated the commercial drone fleet would grow to about 442,000 aircraft by 2021 from 42,000 that were present at the end of&nbsp;2016. The FAA said there could be as many as 1.6 million commercial drones in use by 2021.

In April, flights of nearly all drones over 133 US military facilities were banned due to security concerns

Headquarters of United States Department of Defense, Pentagon, has given more than 130 US military bases across the United States the green light to shoot down private and commercial drones that could endanger aviation safety or pose other threats. The uncrewed aircrafts have multiplied in US skies in recent years and continue to increase at a fast rate. U.S. and private-sector officials are concerned that dangerous or even hostile drones could cause disturbance in places like military bases, airports and sports stadiums. While the specific action that the U.S. military can take against drones remain classified, it will include destroying or seizing private and commercial drones that pose a threat, Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis told reporters on Monday. The classified guidelines were distributed early last month. The Pentagon sent out unclassified guidance on how to communicate the policy to communities on Friday. "The increase of commercial and private drones in the United States has raised our concerns with regards to the safety and security of our installations, aviation safety and the safety of people," Davis said. In April, flights of drones over 133 US military bases were prohibited for security concerns. Drones have become popular as toys and with hobbyists, and have commercial uses such as aerial photography. Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google unit have been utilising drones to deliver online ordered goods ordered. The Federal Aviation Administration estimated the commercial drone fleet would grow to about 442,000 aircraft by 2021 from 42,000 that were present at the end of 2016. The FAA said there could be as many as 1.6 million commercial drones in use by 2021.

Military can destroy drones over domestic US bases: Pentagon

Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;has decided to target drone procurement as one the main agendas during his two-day US visit which begins on Sunday.

Isreal which is the biggest drone exporter in the world&nbsp;has been eyeing India&#39;s drone market for several years now, PM Modi is set to visit Isreal next month to clinch Heron TP drones.

Israel had displayed the Heron TP drone at the AeroIndia show in Bengaluru in February to lure the Indian government. The drones which are currently in India&#39;s arsenal are mainly for intelligence gathering and surveillance.&nbsp;

India already ranks first among drone-importing nations, according to SIPRI(Stockholm International Peace Research Institute).&nbsp;

The Predator drones have been on India&#39;s radar for several years but the request to buy them has been constantly turned down earlier by the Obama administration. India hopes under Trump they will be able to push the Predator drone deal.

Sources have told Reuters there is some concern in the State Department that if India were to get the surveillance drones, New Delhi would renew its push to acquire armed drones, which its military has eyed ever since they were deployed by US forces against militants in Pakistan.

US export laws prohibit the transfer of arms to a country unless it is fighting alongside US forces.

India had been pushing for attack Predator for several years but the request was constantly turned down

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to target drone procurement as one the main agendas during his two-day US visit which begins on Sunday. Isreal which is the biggest drone exporter in the world has been eyeing India's drone market for several years now, PM Modi is set to visit Isreal next month to clinch Heron TP drones. Israel had displayed the Heron TP drone at the AeroIndia show in Bengaluru in February to lure the Indian government. The drones which are currently in India's arsenal are mainly for intelligence gathering and surveillance. India already ranks first among drone-importing nations, according to SIPRI(Stockholm International Peace Research Institute). The Predator drones have been on India's radar for several years but the request to buy them has been constantly turned down earlier by the Obama administration. India hopes under Trump they will be able to push the Predator drone deal. Sources have told Reuters there is some concern in the State Department that if India were to get the surveillance drones, New Delhi would renew its push to acquire armed drones, which its military has eyed ever since they were deployed by US forces against militants in Pakistan. US export laws prohibit the transfer of arms to a country unless it is fighting alongside US forces.

Predator drones Modi's top agenda during US visit

The introduction of the Drone Racing Championships on&nbsp;mainstream television is the first step in making e-sports a household name.

The Drone Racing League (DRL) received an investment of $12 million from partners like Sky Sports and ProSieben after the proven success of the sport on social media platforms.&nbsp;

The broadcasters will air a circuit of five DRL races from North America in October and November.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VxTHVn9k3ck?list=PLmWa9ZZLlCjt0Jlg7kN3JBNX4LH1sRsGh" width="970"></iframe>

All pilots fly an identical drone; so winning and losing is purely dependent on people&rsquo;s piloting skills and not technology.

The compact unmanned flying vehicles race at a speed of 80 m/h (130 k/h).&nbsp;They fly on complex three dimensional courses, which is unlike any other form of racing.

The evolution of e-sports begins with high-speed drones racing in futuristic three dimensional tracks

The introduction of the Drone Racing Championships on mainstream television is the first step in making e-sports a household name. The Drone Racing League (DRL) received an investment of $12 million from partners like Sky Sports and ProSieben after the proven success of the sport on social media platforms. The broadcasters will air a circuit of five DRL races from North America in October and November. All pilots fly an identical drone; so winning and losing is purely dependent on people’s piloting skills and not technology. The compact unmanned flying vehicles race at a speed of 80 m/h (130 k/h). They fly on complex three dimensional courses, which is unlike any other form of racing.

Video: Drone racing comes to mainstream television

Dutch police is all set to become the world&#39;s first police force to train and employ eagles in order to combat rogue drones.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It&#39;s a low-tech solution to a hi-tech problem,&quot; police spokesman Dennis Janus said referring to the modern-day problem of increasing number of drones in the skies.&nbsp; 
 
After months of practice, on Monday, Hunter, a two-old-female bald eagle&nbsp;was sent out along with her trainer to test her abilities, AFP news agency reported.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Eagles away! Dutch police unveil latest recruits against drones <a href="https://t.co/g9ZaYsKWlO">https://t.co/g9ZaYsKWlO</a> <a href="https://t.co/Zh6O2Gbvxt">pic.twitter.com/Zh6O2Gbvxt</a>
&mdash; AFP news agency (@AFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP/status/775435284032921600">September 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
 
The police created a fake setting of a visiting State-head, played by a woman officer, who emerges out of the car and is immediately confronted by a drone. 
 
&quot;Attack, attack,&quot; came the cry, while sirens began wailing and Hunter reported for duty. She grabbed the drone with her powerful talons and landed safely a few meters away. 
 
The move comes in after rogue drones started combating sensitive areas, such as airports. The trail was started in 2015.&nbsp; 
 
Police head of operations, Michel Baeten told AFP: &quot;We found out that it is probably one of the most effective counter-measures against hostile drones.&quot; 
 
&ldquo;None of the eagles were hurt, but as for the drones, none of them survived,&rdquo;&nbsp; Janus said insisting that positive reformation was used to train the eagles, pieces of chicken or turkey were attached to the drones, attuning the eagle that catching the prey would lead to a reward. 
 
&quot;However, during Monday&#39;s demo, Hunter missed the drone several times,&quot; he added.&nbsp; 
 
About 100 police officers will be trained in working with the eagles, and the Dutch &quot;flying squad&quot; with its own birds of prey could go into action from next summer.&nbsp;In the meantime, the police will be using birds supplied by a specialist company, Guard From Above. 
 
&quot;It is a bird, it is an animal, it is not a robot. It is not a flawless solution,&quot; Baeten stresses.&nbsp; 
 
The Dutch police are working on developing a protective glove to cover the birds&#39; talons&nbsp;so that their feet do not get cut while hunting larger objects.&nbsp; 
 
They are also continuing to explore other methods to combat drones such as using nets carried by another drone, or deploying electronic counter-measures against the hostile craft. 
 
Amid the publicity, police forces from other countries like Germany and France have also been in contact to find out more about the eagle force. 
 
&quot;A lot of law enforcement agencies are really interested in our programme. I think other countries will follow,&quot; said Baeten. 
 
The plan is now to launch the eagles whenever drones are believed to be posing a danger to the public, such as during sensitive state visits or if the remote-controlled tiny craft are flying too close to airports. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP) 
.

This move came in after drones started invading sensitive areas, like airports. The trail was started in 2015

Dutch police is all set to become the world's first police force to train and employ eagles in order to combat rogue drones. "It's a low-tech solution to a hi-tech problem," police spokesman Dennis Janus said referring to the modern-day problem of increasing number of drones in the skies. After months of practice, on Monday, Hunter, a two-old-female bald eagle was sent out along with her trainer to test her abilities, AFP news agency reported. Eagles away! Dutch police unveil latest recruits against drones https://t.co/g9ZaYsKWlO pic.twitter.com/Zh6O2Gbvxt — AFP news agency (@AFP) September 12, 2016 The police created a fake setting of a visiting State-head, played by a woman officer, who emerges out of the car and is immediately confronted by a drone. "Attack, attack," came the cry, while sirens began wailing and Hunter reported for duty. She grabbed the drone with her powerful talons and landed safely a few meters away. The move comes in after rogue drones started combating sensitive areas, such as airports. The trail was started in 2015. Police head of operations, Michel Baeten told AFP: "We found out that it is probably one of the most effective counter-measures against hostile drones." “None of the eagles were hurt, but as for the drones, none of them survived,” Janus said insisting that positive reformation was used to train the eagles, pieces of chicken or turkey were attached to the drones, attuning the eagle that catching the prey would lead to a reward. "However, during Monday's demo, Hunter missed the drone several times," he added. About 100 police officers will be trained in working with the eagles, and the Dutch "flying squad" with its own birds of prey could go into action from next summer. In the meantime, the police will be using birds supplied by a specialist company, Guard From Above. "It is a bird, it is an animal, it is not a robot. It is not a flawless solution," Baeten stresses. The Dutch police are working on developing a protective glove to cover the birds' talons so that their feet do not get cut while hunting larger objects. They are also continuing to explore other methods to combat drones such as using nets carried by another drone, or deploying electronic counter-measures against the hostile craft. Amid the publicity, police forces from other countries like Germany and France have also been in contact to find out more about the eagle force. "A lot of law enforcement agencies are really interested in our programme. I think other countries will follow," said Baeten. The plan is now to launch the eagles whenever drones are believed to be posing a danger to the public, such as during sensitive state visits or if the remote-controlled tiny craft are flying too close to airports. (WION with inputs from AFP) .

In a first, Dutch police to employ eagles to combat drones

Fifteen years after fleeing his home in Afghanistan to escape the Taliban, Mehdi Salehi is today working on a project to save the lives of drowning refugees. 
 
The 33-year-old Afghan wants to help people like him survive the dangerous journey across the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. 
 
&#39;Drones for Refugees&#39; is a project designed to enable rescuers to swiftly locate and reach migrant boats in difficulty, cutting the time it otherwise takes to reach them. 
 
The sea route between Turkey and the Greek Islands, which was a favourite among smugglers, saw heavy traffic post the Syrian conflict. 
 
Salehi, now a lecturer at the Parsons School of Design in New York, saw images of many who did not make it through the seas and decided to do something about it. 
 
With support from Parsons alumni and faculty, Mehdi and his partner Kristen Kersh bought and customised the drone tested on Lesbos. They added cameras, sensors, data-sharing points and designed a web&nbsp;platform. 
 
Footage from the cameras and the infrared sensors can be streamed live to websites and mobile devices used by coastguards, search and rescue teams and merchant ships. 
 
With drones making news for all the wrong reasons in the recent times, Mehdi insists that the technology must be used for saving lives. 
 
&quot;With the technology that we have today, people shouldn&rsquo;t be dying at sea. When I crossed, we had to buy a paper map to find the closest point to Greece on the Turkish seashore,&quot; he tells AFP. 
 
Esther Camps, Lesbos coordinator of Spanish lifeguard group Pro-Activa, says that the project could provide vital information on what rescuers need to expect ahead of time: &quot;If they need medical assistance, the number&nbsp;of people on board, availability of life-jackets on them, can all be tracked,&quot; she says. 
 
When Salehi crossed the Aegean from Turkey in 2001, he arrived on Chios island in Greece with a friend. 
 
Salehi and his friend were arrested and thrown in jail for five months until a Greek doctor working for Amnesty International visited the 
prison and Salehi asked her for help in filling out his Greek asylum application. 
 
She found him a lawyer and he got his papers.
<h2>Better drones</h2>
Drones for Refugees plans to build bigger drones, able to fly over larger areas of the Mediterranean where the survival of refugees and migrants depends on being spotted and rescued by a ship. 
 
The final prototype is likely to be ready by the end of this year, Salehi says. 
 
Until now, the group has been funding itself but Salehi and his team will need more cash if they are to build larger drones with longer 
flight autonomy. 
 
After being granted asylum in Greece, Salehi obtained a master&#39;s degree in architecture from the University of Volos in 2011. 
 
Moving to the United States, he received a second master&#39;s in design and technology from Parson&#39;s School of Design in New York. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

'Drones for Refugees' is a project designed to enable rescuers to swiftly locate and reach migrant boats in difficulty

Fifteen years after fleeing his home in Afghanistan to escape the Taliban, Mehdi Salehi is today working on a project to save the lives of drowning refugees. The 33-year-old Afghan wants to help people like him survive the dangerous journey across the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. 'Drones for Refugees' is a project designed to enable rescuers to swiftly locate and reach migrant boats in difficulty, cutting the time it otherwise takes to reach them. The sea route between Turkey and the Greek Islands, which was a favourite among smugglers, saw heavy traffic post the Syrian conflict. Salehi, now a lecturer at the Parsons School of Design in New York, saw images of many who did not make it through the seas and decided to do something about it. With support from Parsons alumni and faculty, Mehdi and his partner Kristen Kersh bought and customised the drone tested on Lesbos. They added cameras, sensors, data-sharing points and designed a web platform. Footage from the cameras and the infrared sensors can be streamed live to websites and mobile devices used by coastguards, search and rescue teams and merchant ships. With drones making news for all the wrong reasons in the recent times, Mehdi insists that the technology must be used for saving lives. "With the technology that we have today, people shouldn’t be dying at sea. When I crossed, we had to buy a paper map to find the closest point to Greece on the Turkish seashore," he tells AFP. Esther Camps, Lesbos coordinator of Spanish lifeguard group Pro-Activa, says that the project could provide vital information on what rescuers need to expect ahead of time: "If they need medical assistance, the number of people on board, availability of life-jackets on them, can all be tracked," she says. When Salehi crossed the Aegean from Turkey in 2001, he arrived on Chios island in Greece with a friend. Salehi and his friend were arrested and thrown in jail for five months until a Greek doctor working for Amnesty International visited the prison and Salehi asked her for help in filling out his Greek asylum application. She found him a lawyer and he got his papers. Better drones Drones for Refugees plans to build bigger drones, able to fly over larger areas of the Mediterranean where the survival of refugees and migrants depends on being spotted and rescued by a ship. The final prototype is likely to be ready by the end of this year, Salehi says. Until now, the group has been funding itself but Salehi and his team will need more cash if they are to build larger drones with longer flight autonomy. After being granted asylum in Greece, Salehi obtained a master's degree in architecture from the University of Volos in 2011. Moving to the United States, he received a second master's in design and technology from Parson's School of Design in New York. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghan refugee makes drones to save drownings

Amazon announced on Monday plans to test delivery drone technology in Britain, as the US online commerce giant tries to advance the idea safely. 
 
The partnership aims to understand how drones can be used safely and reliably, and identify the regulations to put in place, it said in a statement. 
 
Amazon got British approval for three new types of tests: flying drones that are no longer within sight of their operators in rural and suburban areas; having one person operate several highly automated drones; and testing devices to make the drones able to identify and avoid obstacles. 
 
&quot;Britain is a leader in enabling drone innovation; we&#39;ve been investing in Prime Air research and development here for quite some time,&quot; said Paul Misener, Amazon&#39;s Vice President of Global Innovation Policy and Communications. 
 
&quot;This announcement strengthens our partnership with the UK and brings Amazon closer to our goal of using drones to safely deliver parcels in 30 minutes to customers in the UK and elsewhere around the world.&quot; 
 
Last month, the US Federal Aviation Administration unveiled long-awaited new rules that clear the way for small, commercial drones to operate across US airspace. 
 
Under the FAA&#39;s rules, drone operators will be allowed to fly commercial craft weighing less than 55 pounds (25 kilograms) during daylight hours, provided they can maintain a clear view of the drone at all times. 
 
While that effectively precludes the sort of robo-delivery services being developed by Amazon and other major vendors, the new rules will nonetheless ensure drones become increasingly commonplace in the skies. 
 
The White House cites industry estimates suggesting drones could generate more than $82 billion for the US economy over the coming decade, creating some 100,000 jobs. 
 
(AFP)

Amazon got British approval for three new types of tests. It is trying to advance the idea safely so that the drones can be used reliably

Amazon announced on Monday plans to test delivery drone technology in Britain, as the US online commerce giant tries to advance the idea safely. The partnership aims to understand how drones can be used safely and reliably, and identify the regulations to put in place, it said in a statement. Amazon got British approval for three new types of tests: flying drones that are no longer within sight of their operators in rural and suburban areas; having one person operate several highly automated drones; and testing devices to make the drones able to identify and avoid obstacles. "Britain is a leader in enabling drone innovation; we've been investing in Prime Air research and development here for quite some time," said Paul Misener, Amazon's Vice President of Global Innovation Policy and Communications. "This announcement strengthens our partnership with the UK and brings Amazon closer to our goal of using drones to safely deliver parcels in 30 minutes to customers in the UK and elsewhere around the world." Last month, the US Federal Aviation Administration unveiled long-awaited new rules that clear the way for small, commercial drones to operate across US airspace. Under the FAA's rules, drone operators will be allowed to fly commercial craft weighing less than 55 pounds (25 kilograms) during daylight hours, provided they can maintain a clear view of the drone at all times. While that effectively precludes the sort of robo-delivery services being developed by Amazon and other major vendors, the new rules will nonetheless ensure drones become increasingly commonplace in the skies. The White House cites industry estimates suggesting drones could generate more than $82 billion for the US economy over the coming decade, creating some 100,000 jobs. (AFP)

Amazon to conduct drone delivery tests in the UK

Former refugees Massoud and Mahmud Hassani stunned the world three years ago with an invention like a dandelion puffball that sought to rid the world of landmines. 
 
Now the Afghan brothers are back with their latest creation: a low-cost drone to detect and destroy mines, which each year claim thousands of lives.&nbsp;Ridding the world of their childhood horror has become the life work of the Hassanis, who now live in the Netherlands. 
 
In 2013, they won worldwide acclaim for the &quot;mine kafon&quot;, a giant ball shaped like a dandelion seed head that rolls around with the wind, its plastic stalks tripping landmines in the process. 
 
Inspired by their childhood toys, the kafon, short for &quot;kafondan&quot; which in the Hassanis&#39; native Dari language means &quot;something that explodes&quot;, drew high praise from anti-landmine organisations. 
 
 
Flying blue octopus&nbsp; 
 
Now their latest mine-hunting device combines drone technology, 3D printing and robotics with a metal detector to find and ultimately destroy landmines.&nbsp;Hinged on six arms with rotors that creates lift, the 4.5 kilogram (10-pound) drone consists of a blue hard plastic casing that contains batteries, computer hardware and software and a global positioning system. 
 
A robotic arm slung underneath is fitted with pincers that can remotely be opened and closed. The pincers can carry a metal detector or a small explosive charge, which the brothers say can be used to destroy a landmine.&nbsp;The on-board GPS allows it to plot its course via computer. 
 
Massoud explains that the drone works in three stages: mapping, detecting and destroying. 
 
When deployed, a 3D mapping system scans the section that needs to be demined. Secondly, the mapped area is meticulously sweeped by the drones carrying a metal detector on a pre-programme path. 
 
&quot;This way the mine field in question can be scanned inch-by-inch,&quot; Massoud told AFP at his workshop in the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven. 
 
Finally, the plan is to destroy the mines by using the drone to place a small charge on every mine to detonate it.&nbsp;&quot;We believe this way mines can be cleared almost 20 times faster than what they are now,&quot; Massoud said. 
 
 
&#39;Time-consuming process&#39;&nbsp; 
 
So far the duo have built three working prototypes, and have carried out demonstrations before the Dutch military, who say they are willing to help with further testing. 
 
&quot;Clearing minefields is an incredibly time-consuming process,&quot; Major Fred de Vries of the Dutch army&#39;s explosives ordnance disposal unit told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;We see many possibilities to use drones&quot; to save time to map and detect landmines in a given area, De Vries said. 
 
The key phase will be to carry out field tests in Afghanistan, which the brothers hope to finance by crowd-funding.&nbsp;If all goes well, the pair believe the drone can be made for as little as 1,000 Euros ($1,100) each. 
 
Other opinions are guarded.&nbsp;One of them is the Halo Trust, the world&#39;s largest humanitarian mine-clearing organisation.&nbsp;It said despite having carried out some &quot;small-scale trials with aerial mapping drones&quot; it did not believe &quot;drones will contribute significantly to the future of mine clearance&quot;. 
 
Drones are of limited use in areas covered with vegetation and in poor weather conditions, the trust said.&nbsp;And even if the drone did find a landmine &quot;a trained human being will still be required to excavate and destroy it,&quot; the trust said in a statement. 
 
The brothers are using the Kickstarter online crowd funding platform in the hope of raising 90,000 Euros ($100,000) for the final tests.&nbsp;They want to take it to Afghanistan for testing within the next two months, the first time the brothers will be back in their native country since fleeing the Taliban-ruled Kabul in the late 1990&#39;s. 
 
Three years ago a plan to return to Afghanistan to test the original kafon failed.&nbsp;The &quot;puffball&quot; idea, while praised for its low technology and cheapness, meant the device was at the mercy of the winds and could not cover a minefield systematically to guarantee it was cleared, as humans would. 
 
&quot;The mine kafon invention did a lot to create awareness of landmines,&quot; Massoud Hassani said.&nbsp;&quot;We felt that it was now time to do something even more concrete to destroy landmines,&quot; he said. 
 
Massoud, 32, fled Afghanistan in 1998, followed two years later by Mahmud, 30. After arduous treks through Pakistan and Uzbekistan, the brothers finally made their way to the Netherlands and today hold Dutch citizenship.&nbsp;Landmines are scattered in 78 countries, and each year kill between 15,000 and 20,000 people and maim countless more, according to UN figures. 
 
Despite huge progress in mine-clearing, Afghanistan remains one of the most mined countries in the world.&nbsp;Since 1989, around 703,000 anti-personnel mines, 29,000 anti-tank mines and more than 18 million other pieces of unexploded ordnance have been collected, according to the UN Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (UNMACA). 
 
There were at least 1,296 Afghan casualties in 2014 resulting from mines, victim-triggered improvised explosive devices and other ordnance left over from the Afghan war, the Geneva-based Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor research group said. 
 
&quot;Our whole life is dedicated to the fight against landmines. As children we saw our friends lose limbs and die,&quot; said Massoud.&nbsp;&quot;It will be great to go back to our country bearing this gift.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

'We believe this way mines can be cleared almost 20 times faster than what they are now', said creator Massoud Hassani

Former refugees Massoud and Mahmud Hassani stunned the world three years ago with an invention like a dandelion puffball that sought to rid the world of landmines. Now the Afghan brothers are back with their latest creation: a low-cost drone to detect and destroy mines, which each year claim thousands of lives. Ridding the world of their childhood horror has become the life work of the Hassanis, who now live in the Netherlands. In 2013, they won worldwide acclaim for the "mine kafon", a giant ball shaped like a dandelion seed head that rolls around with the wind, its plastic stalks tripping landmines in the process. Inspired by their childhood toys, the kafon, short for "kafondan" which in the Hassanis' native Dari language means "something that explodes", drew high praise from anti-landmine organisations. Flying blue octopus Now their latest mine-hunting device combines drone technology, 3D printing and robotics with a metal detector to find and ultimately destroy landmines. Hinged on six arms with rotors that creates lift, the 4.5 kilogram (10-pound) drone consists of a blue hard plastic casing that contains batteries, computer hardware and software and a global positioning system. A robotic arm slung underneath is fitted with pincers that can remotely be opened and closed. The pincers can carry a metal detector or a small explosive charge, which the brothers say can be used to destroy a landmine. The on-board GPS allows it to plot its course via computer. Massoud explains that the drone works in three stages: mapping, detecting and destroying. When deployed, a 3D mapping system scans the section that needs to be demined. Secondly, the mapped area is meticulously sweeped by the drones carrying a metal detector on a pre-programme path. "This way the mine field in question can be scanned inch-by-inch," Massoud told AFP at his workshop in the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven. Finally, the plan is to destroy the mines by using the drone to place a small charge on every mine to detonate it. "We believe this way mines can be cleared almost 20 times faster than what they are now," Massoud said. 'Time-consuming process' So far the duo have built three working prototypes, and have carried out demonstrations before the Dutch military, who say they are willing to help with further testing. "Clearing minefields is an incredibly time-consuming process," Major Fred de Vries of the Dutch army's explosives ordnance disposal unit told AFP. "We see many possibilities to use drones" to save time to map and detect landmines in a given area, De Vries said. The key phase will be to carry out field tests in Afghanistan, which the brothers hope to finance by crowd-funding. If all goes well, the pair believe the drone can be made for as little as 1,000 Euros ($1,100) each. Other opinions are guarded. One of them is the Halo Trust, the world's largest humanitarian mine-clearing organisation. It said despite having carried out some "small-scale trials with aerial mapping drones" it did not believe "drones will contribute significantly to the future of mine clearance". Drones are of limited use in areas covered with vegetation and in poor weather conditions, the trust said. And even if the drone did find a landmine "a trained human being will still be required to excavate and destroy it," the trust said in a statement. The brothers are using the Kickstarter online crowd funding platform in the hope of raising 90,000 Euros ($100,000) for the final tests. They want to take it to Afghanistan for testing within the next two months, the first time the brothers will be back in their native country since fleeing the Taliban-ruled Kabul in the late 1990's. Three years ago a plan to return to Afghanistan to test the original kafon failed. The "puffball" idea, while praised for its low technology and cheapness, meant the device was at the mercy of the winds and could not cover a minefield systematically to guarantee it was cleared, as humans would. "The mine kafon invention did a lot to create awareness of landmines," Massoud Hassani said. "We felt that it was now time to do something even more concrete to destroy landmines," he said. Massoud, 32, fled Afghanistan in 1998, followed two years later by Mahmud, 30. After arduous treks through Pakistan and Uzbekistan, the brothers finally made their way to the Netherlands and today hold Dutch citizenship. Landmines are scattered in 78 countries, and each year kill between 15,000 and 20,000 people and maim countless more, according to UN figures. Despite huge progress in mine-clearing, Afghanistan remains one of the most mined countries in the world. Since 1989, around 703,000 anti-personnel mines, 29,000 anti-tank mines and more than 18 million other pieces of unexploded ordnance have been collected, according to the UN Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (UNMACA). There were at least 1,296 Afghan casualties in 2014 resulting from mines, victim-triggered improvised explosive devices and other ordnance left over from the Afghan war, the Geneva-based Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor research group said. "Our whole life is dedicated to the fight against landmines. As children we saw our friends lose limbs and die," said Massoud. "It will be great to go back to our country bearing this gift." (AFP)

Afghan brothers launch new mine-hunting drone

India has sent a letter of request (LoR) to the US seeking to purchase patrol drones for protection and vigilance of its maritime assets in the Indian Ocean, sources said. 
 
The letter of request (LoR) sent by New Delhi last week comes less than a fortnight after India was inducted into Missile Technology 
 
Control Regime (MTCR) and recognised by the US as a &quot;major defence partner&quot; after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama, earlier this month. 
 
This is part of the Modi Government&#39;s effort to fast track its goal to secure the country&#39;s maritime assets, particularly in the Indian Ocean and, detect any untoward intrusion like the Mumbai terrorist attack. 
 
The letter seeks purchase of state-of-the-art multi-mission maritime patrol Predator Guardian UAV&#39;s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) from General Atomics, they said. 
 
It provides high-altitude wide area and has long endurance maritime ISR capability, which will help India to safeguard its maritime assets in the Indian Ocean, both east and west coast. 
 
Flying at an altitude of 50,000 feet these drones have the capacity to fly non-stop for more than 24 hours and monitor the movement of objects as small as a football, sources said. 
 
India had previously shown interest in purchasing these drones from the US, but the Obama administration was unable to process these request as India was not a member of MTCR. 
 
After India got the MTCR membership earlier this month, the US has started looking into the proposal and is believed to be moving ahead with the next phase of letter of acceptance. 
 
&quot;Earlier this month, President Obama and Prime Minister Modi affirmed their support for US-India cooperation in promoting maritime security,&quot; they said. 
 
The issue of drones was discussed by the Prime Minister with President Obama who gave a favourable response. 
 
Referring to the India-US joint statement on June 7 at the White House, the sources said the two leaders reiterated the importance they attach to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight and exploitation of resources as per international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and settlement of territorial disputes by peaceful means. 
 
It is estimated that India could be looking at over 250 Predator Guardian UAV&#39;s over the next few years, estimated at over USD 5 billion. 
 
&quot;Its Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) mode provides a quick and easy method for locating moving vehicles,&quot; Dr Lall, an aerospace scientist said. 
 
&quot;The radar&#39;s Maritime Wide Area Search (MWAS) mode provides the capability to complete a variety of maritime missions successfully, including coastal surveillance, long-range surveillance, small target detection, and search and rescue operations. These are also equipped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) for identifying vessels at sea,&quot; he added. 
 
(PTI)

The 'Predator Guardian' drones can fly at 50,000 feet non-stop for over 24 hours and monitor the movement of objects as small as a football

India has sent a letter of request (LoR) to the US seeking to purchase patrol drones for protection and vigilance of its maritime assets in the Indian Ocean, sources said. The letter of request (LoR) sent by New Delhi last week comes less than a fortnight after India was inducted into Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and recognised by the US as a "major defence partner" after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama, earlier this month. This is part of the Modi Government's effort to fast track its goal to secure the country's maritime assets, particularly in the Indian Ocean and, detect any untoward intrusion like the Mumbai terrorist attack. The letter seeks purchase of state-of-the-art multi-mission maritime patrol Predator Guardian UAV's (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) from General Atomics, they said. It provides high-altitude wide area and has long endurance maritime ISR capability, which will help India to safeguard its maritime assets in the Indian Ocean, both east and west coast. Flying at an altitude of 50,000 feet these drones have the capacity to fly non-stop for more than 24 hours and monitor the movement of objects as small as a football, sources said. India had previously shown interest in purchasing these drones from the US, but the Obama administration was unable to process these request as India was not a member of MTCR. After India got the MTCR membership earlier this month, the US has started looking into the proposal and is believed to be moving ahead with the next phase of letter of acceptance. "Earlier this month, President Obama and Prime Minister Modi affirmed their support for US-India cooperation in promoting maritime security," they said. The issue of drones was discussed by the Prime Minister with President Obama who gave a favourable response. Referring to the India-US joint statement on June 7 at the White House, the sources said the two leaders reiterated the importance they attach to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight and exploitation of resources as per international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and settlement of territorial disputes by peaceful means. It is estimated that India could be looking at over 250 Predator Guardian UAV's over the next few years, estimated at over USD 5 billion. "Its Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) mode provides a quick and easy method for locating moving vehicles," Dr Lall, an aerospace scientist said. "The radar's Maritime Wide Area Search (MWAS) mode provides the capability to complete a variety of maritime missions successfully, including coastal surveillance, long-range surveillance, small target detection, and search and rescue operations. These are also equipped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) for identifying vessels at sea," he added. (PTI)

India seeks to buy estimated 250 US drones for over $5 billion

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