Civil Aviation Ministry allows drone flights to target locusts at night

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed for flying engine-operated drones to target and destroy clusters of locusts at night across North-Western and Central States.

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In a first, permission was given to fly the drones, each weighing about 50 kg, to spray chemicals on the locusts swarming on huge trees in Rajasthan and Gujarat close to international borders.

The drones which are dual power (petrol & battery) based rotary wing Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) were indigenously designed and developed by the Centre for Aerospace Research (CASR), Anna University, Chennai.

They have 60% larger pesticide tank capacity and three times more flying endurance compared to other aerial vehicles, making it more effective in the mission to eradicate locusts that were posing a threat to crops.

Also equipped with thermal imaging systems, the drones would be airborne in the deserts of Barmer and Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan from Monday onwards to zero in on and eliminate locust clusters.