Defense news ,India :- In the wake of the recent assault on the merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy has reportedly discovered components that may be linked to the Shahed-136 drone, an Iranian-made UAV, as claimed by DFI Lite, a prominent Indian OSINT on his X handle (formerly Twitter).
The Shahed-136 is renowned for its capability to carry small explosive payloads in self-detonating attacks, covering distances ranging from 1100 to 1500 miles. DFI Lite has proposed that the part retrieved by the Indian Navy, showcased in the shared images, bears a resemblance to the mid-section of the Shahed-136, a drone extensively utilized by Russia in conflicts such as Ukraine.
While Iran has refuted any involvement in the MV Chem Pluto attack, the Pentagon maintains that the drone assault was orchestrated by Iran. The merchant vessel, carrying a crew of 20 Indians and one Vietnamese member, fell victim to a suspected drone attack, resulting in a fire. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) subsequently secured the vessel, as per an official statement from the ICG.
Setting sail from the UAE on December 19 with New Mangalore port in India as its final destination scheduled for December 25, MV Chem Pluto incident has sparked concerns about maritime security and the potential utilization of drones in assaults on merchant vessels. Ongoing investigations aim to unveil the origin and characteristics of the drone attack, with a specific focus on the recovered parts that could provide vital clues regarding the identity of the assailants.
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