Maldives Launches Air Corps With Turkish-Made Drones to Boost Surveillance Capabilities

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) inaugurated its Air Corps with three Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey at Maafaru International Airport on 15 March 2024. President Mohamed Muizzu presided over the event. The opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) accused the government of financial impropriety and bypassing protocols, calling the procurement a "huge scam" financed through the contingency budget. The government defended the acquisition as necessary for round-the-clock surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone and combating drug trafficking. The UAVs have a 300 km range and precision strike capability.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) inaugurated its Air Corps with three Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey at Maafaru International Airport on 15 March 2024. President Mohamed Muizzu presided over the event. The opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) accused the government of financial impropriety and bypassing protocols, calling the procurement a "huge scam" financed through the contingency budget. The government defended the acquisition as necessary for round-the-clock surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone and combating drug trafficking. The UAVs have a 300 km range and precision strike capability.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) inaugurated its Air Corps with three Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey at Maafaru International Airport on 15 March 2024. President Mohamed Muizzu presided over the event. The opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) accused the government of financial impropriety and bypassing protocols, calling the procurement a "huge scam" financed through the contingency budget. The government defended the acquisition as necessary for round-the-clock surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone and combating drug trafficking. The UAVs have a 300 km range and precision strike capability.

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