Drones Need To Operate Close To Area of Operation

Drones lose punch in tracking Naxals after long flights

12 Israeli made Searcher tactical drones, operated by National Technical Reconnaissance Organisation (NTRO), are used to keep an eye over Maoists infested jungles along the Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chattisgarh borders.
These expensive drones are yet to zero in on 100 strong Maoist dens in these jungles
Remotely piloted drones have to fly a long distance from Begumpet airbase in AP to area of operation in Darba plateau, which rob drones of their hover-time, needed to gather pictures of areas
A proposal to reallocate drones to DRDO air strip in Jagdalpur, site recent Maoist attack, was earlier rejected by NTRO and Indian Air Force
NTRO agrees to relocate to Steel Authority of India run airstrip in Bhillai, 250 kms away from Jagdalpur
Drone fleet yet to move to Bhillai after signing an agreement to that effect in 2012. Lack of facilities for pilots cited as a reason for that.
Drones are available only 20 days in a month and for a few hours in a day. There is shortage of IAF trained pilots to operate the drones.
NTRO alleges it has no real-time access to police and IB intelligence.

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