Maldives acquires Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones
For the first time in its history, the Maldives has purchased Bayraktar TB2 combat UAVs from Turkey to enhance security and surveillance capabilities, The Defense Post reports.
What is known
New drones manufactured by Baykar have already been deployed at Maafaru International Airport in the Northern Maldives. Although the news was unofficially announced, local sources say that the Maldivian government plans to start using Bayraktar in the coming weeks.
The deal is valued at $37 million, and the price of each unit and the systems required is approximately $5 million. The drones will patrol the archipelago’s 900,000-square-kilometer exclusive economic zone.
The Maldives has launched a program to upgrade its army due to rising tensions with India. Recently, President Mohamed Muizzou officially asked for the withdrawal of Indian troops from the archipelago. It is worth noting that the country maintains strong relations with China.
