Parliament to summon defense minister to check if drones being used

A lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has filed a request to summon Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon to the Parliament to check if the three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) procured from Türkiye earlier this year are actually being used to surveil Maldives’ vast maritime territory.

The request was filed by Meekail Ahmed Naseem, who represents the South Galolhu constituency, on Monday.

Three ‘Bayraktar TB2’ drones procured from Türkiye were unveiled during the launch of the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) Air Corps on March 15. The government has not disclosed the exact cost of procuring the drones, but said that most of it was funded from grant aid from Türkiye.

Meekail estimates it cost around MVR 570 million. He has requested to clarify whether the drones are being used, and the specifics of the operations it has been used for.

The Bayraktar TB2 drones measure six meters in length, and 12 meters in wing-span. They come with communications equipment weighing approximately 700 kilograms, with the ability to transmit signals to a range of 300 kilometers.

The drones can reach a maximum speed between 70 to 120 knots and can operate for 27 hours non-stop, with a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet.