Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Odisha fishermen's net in Bay of Bengal

It was a surprise for a group of fishermen from Odisha's Balasore district as y netted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while fishing in Bay of Bengal.

UAV was caught by fishermen of Talapa vill when y went to deep sea on Monday.

It was later identified as that of Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near here, sources said.

remotely piloted target aircraft, called Banshee, measures eight-feet long and weighs over 50 kg, sources at ITR said.

empty fiber bodied aircraft is mostly used during trials and practices, y said.

re is need to panic as it is an expendable remote-controlled aircraft and at times it falls into sea after being used, y ded.

fishermen said y were scared as UAV got trapped in ir net.

y n took it to shore on ir motorised boat and said would hand it over to officials of test range once y arrive.

aircraft is used as an aerial target for surface- to-air and air-to-air missiles and weapon systems, defence sources said, ding that UAV was flown as part of a rar calibration exercise of Indian Air Force (IAF).

Target drones are usually flight tested to calibrate it with rar on fighter aircraft before actual launch of an air-to-air missile, y said.

It was used as an expendable target and its retrieval was t necessary, sources said.