After the successful experimental use by the Andhra Pradesh and Chhattishgarh Government, the State Government has evinced interest to press the Unmanned Ariel Vehicle (UAV) into service in anti-Maoists operations.

According to official sources, the State Home Department sought the Tata Advanced Systems, the designer and manufacturer of the drone in India with technological support from an Israeli farm, to provide the terms and conditions and other vital operational details for considering deployment of the UAV against the Maoists.

Since the UAV can have multiple applications for defence and civil applications, the drone was successfully used on an experimental basis by Andhra Pradesh and Chhattishgarh to gather vital information on the activities of the Maoists and in combating the Left wing extremists. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Government has reportedly decided to acquire the UAV for deployment in the ongoing operations against the Maoists. The UAV is fitted with high-speed quality camera which can take video pictures and track the activities of the Maoists, their base even in dense forests at night.

Besides, the drone will be useful in providing data, checking illegal mining and movement minerals.

The sources said the State Government would not purchase the drone. The Home Department authorities are considering to deploy the UAV on hire basis from the Tata Advanced System, a unit of the Tata Group, for use at the time of requirement. The Government is likely to deploy the UAV on commercial basis later for use of the Mining Department.