On Thursday, an Indian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) crossed the Chinese border and crashed. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed it was one of India’s Israeli made Heron Drones.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said, “Recently an Indian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) invaded China’s airspace and crashed in the Sikkim section of Indo China border.” The Chinese troops took a professional and responsible attitude to verify the device, Geng added.
The UAV crossed over the Line of Actual Control after losing contact with the ground control due to some technical problem, the MoD said in a recent statement. The Indian Border Security personnel immediately alerted their Chinese counterparts, as per the standard protocol, they added.
Army PRO Colonel Aman Anand said, “As per standard protocol, the Indian Border Security personnel immediately alerted their Chinese counterparts to locate the UAV. In response, the Chinese side reverted with the location details of the UAV.”
China plans to lodge a Diplomatic protest with India over the violation of China’s territorial sovereignty. “We will fulfil our mission and responsibility and defend China’s national sovereignty and security resolutely,” said Zhang Shuili the Deputy Head of the Combat Bureau of the Western Theatre Command’s Joint Staff Department.
The exact cause of the incident is under investigation, said the MoD. The UAV was on a regular training mission inside the Indian territory before crossing the Line of Actual Control and crashing. “There are possibilities of the UAV being shot down or there being an electronic take over of it cannot be ruled out. However, such a thing would be difficult because of its touch electronic countermeasures,” the MoD added.
Sometimes, in high altitude areas, there are possibilities of the break in the communication link which could be a reason for the UAV losing contact. The Indian Army operating the UAV contacted their Chinese counterparts over a hotline from Nathula in Sikkim. China was requested by the Indian Army to return the UAV.
