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Turkish Drones which are cheap but deadly strengthen Ukraines defenses
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that he will Despite three weeks of Russian shelling, Ukraine has maintained a strong defence of its cities by employing Turkish-made drones to launch surprise attacks on the invaders.
The Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles, which carry lightweight, laser-guided bombs, excel in low-tech battles and have been supplied to more than a dozen countries, including Azerbaijan, Libya, Morocco, and Ethiopia.
According to Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute in London, the drones have carried out unexpectedly successful attacks in the early stages of Ukraine’s fight with Russia, before the Russians could put up their air defences on the battlefield.
“Because they are medium-altitude, slow-flying aircraft with a huge electromagnetic signature and a large radar cross-section, the (TB2s) shouldn’t have a significant influence.” And, because the Russians have advanced air defence systems, they should be shot down. Watling noted, “The terrain is fairly open and provides superb radar coverage.”
“They’ve been effectively flying in at a low level and then going up and raiding with them,” he said. “Such eye-catching targets of opportunity.”
“The freedom to utilise those drones is dwindling,” Watling said, as the Russians become more coordinated and push out their air defences. As a result, the Ukrainians are now having to be more cautious about when they commit them.”
On March 9, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace lauded the drones, as well as other weapons supplied to Ukraine by the West, in a briefing to Parliament.
“One of the ways they’re supplying close air support or actual fire in depth is through Turkish TB2 UAVs, which are delivering munitions onto their artillery and indeed their supply lines, which are vitally essential in slowing or blocking the Russian advance,” Wallace explained.
Drones have also become a hit on social media. Their airborne video of Russian armoured vehicles being destroyed has become a vital instrument in Ukraine’s information war.
Ukraine’s envoy to Turkey, Vasyl Bodnar, tweeted videos of drone assaults, including one that purported to show a convoy of wrecked Russian military vehicles.
He captioned one of the videos with “Mashallah” or “Praise be.”
A video was published to YouTube and broadcast on Ukrainian radio utilising the song “Bayraktar,” which has explosions timed to the beats.
“They’ll be valuable as long as they can fly in and are armed.” “They’ll largely be good for propaganda,” said Aaron Stein, research director at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Washington, D.C. “People are fascinated by the films because they show an airstrike in high resolution.”
In 2019, Turkey began exporting the TB2 drones to Ukraine, which used them to battle Russian-backed separatists in the eastern Donbas region, a move Moscow condemned as “destabilising.”
Turkish officials have declined to reveal details about the drone shipments to Ukraine, such as the number of drones sold and whether Kyiv is being resupplied. The number of TB2s in Ukraine is estimated to be between 20 and 50, according to independent estimations.
The drones, which are estimated to cost under $2 million each, are made by the Baykar defence company, which is owned by the family of Selcuk Bayraktar, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son-in-law. The chief technical officer of Baykar is Bayraktar.
The TB2 is credited as assisting Turkey’s partner Azerbaijan in battling Armenian-backed forces in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2020, as well as in Libya.
Ankara has also employed drones against Kurdish insurgents in Turkey, northern Iraq, and Syria.
According to Stein, such low-cost drones will have a long-term impact on warfare as a helpful tool of attrition as well as a means of attracting the attention of more expensive enemy jets.
“It’s the Toyota Corolla of drones, in my opinion.” “It doesn’t do everything your high-end sports vehicle does, but everything accomplishes 80% of it,” he remarked. “Even for a high-end military like the United States, the core premise of striking a superior force on an attributable, low-cost platform has inherent value.”
The additional $800 million in military aid to Ukraine announced by President Joe Biden on Wednesday would include an undefined number of US-made drones. There are also 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 100 grenade launchers, 20 million rounds of small arms ammo, and grenade launchers and mortar rounds included.
According to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorised to speak publicly, the White House has been considering giving Ukraine access to US-made Switchblade drones that can fly and strike Russian targets. It was unclear whether they or other drones would be included in the additional drones that Biden indicated would be supplied to Ukraine.
Duo allegedly demanded money for processing Mathadi worker registration at APMC market.
The Case
The Navi Mumbai Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested an inspector and a security guard for allegedly demanding and accepting a Rs 43,000 bribe at the APMC market in Turbhe.
The accused have been identified as Bharat Rajaram Kadam (56), an inspector with the Grocery Market and Shops Board, and Vijay Narayan Pawar (38), a security guard.
According to the ACB, a 35-year-old auto-rickshaw driver had applied for registration as a Mathadi worker after an acquaintance left the position. During the process, he was allegedly asked to pay Rs 55,000 to get the required documents and register receipt processed. The security guard allegedly demanded Rs 5,000 for himself and Rs 50,000 on behalf of the inspector. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB on October 5.
After verifying the complaint, the ACB laid a trap at the board’s office in the APMC Fruit Market. During negotiations, the alleged bribe amount was reduced to Rs 43,000. The complainant then handed over the money in the presence of witnesses, following which the ACB team immediately took both accused into custody.
A case has been registered against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act at the APMC police station. Further investigation is underway. The incident has once again highlighted concerns over corruption in processes that directly affect workers seeking employment-related registrations. The ACB has urged citizens to report demands for bribes rather than giving in to such pressure.
Authorities focus on smooth passenger movement as flight operations are expected to increase.
The Plan
With flight operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) expected to increase, the Navi Mumbai Police have begun preparations to manage the expected rise in traffic around the airport.
Police officials are working on a detailed traffic management plan, particularly for passengers travelling to the airport from Mumbai and Thane. The focus is on identifying busy routes, possible congestion points and measures to ensure smoother movement of vehicles. The opening of NMIA is expected to significantly change traffic patterns in Navi Mumbai and neighbouring areas. With more passengers and vehicles expected on the roads, authorities are looking at ways to prevent traffic bottlenecks, especially during peak hours.
The police are also considering the possible movement of some flights from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai to NMIA. Any such shift could further increase passenger traffic towards Navi Mumbai.
Officials are therefore assessing key approach roads and planning traffic diversions and other measures wherever required. The aim is to ensure that passengers can reach the airport without unnecessary delays while regular commuters and local residents are also able to travel smoothly. For Navi Mumbai residents, the new airport is expected to bring major economic and connectivity benefits, but managing the additional traffic will be equally important.
Police preparations are aimed at ensuring that the growing airport activity does not lead to major traffic problems and that the new airport remains easily accessible for passengers from across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
CIDCO urged to hand over open land to NMMC for better maintenance and development.
The Activities
The area outside Nerul Railway Station on the western side has become a growing concern for residents and commuters due to poor maintenance and alleged illegal activities. Issues such as unauthorised parking, garbage accumulation, the presence of homeless people and suspected drug-related activities have raised safety concerns, particularly among women using the station.
To address the problem, efforts are being made to transfer the open land from CIDCO to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). The move is expected to allow the civic body to take up cleanliness, beautification, parking management and other development work in the area.
A meeting was held in the presence of a state minister following an initiative by corporator Girish Mhatre. The safety and development of the area around the station were discussed during the meeting. The NMMC Commissioner has also formally requested CIDCO to hand over the land to the civic body. Residents hope that the transfer will lead to better upkeep and make the area safer and more accessible for commuters. Improved lighting, cleanliness, organised parking and regular monitoring could help address several of the existing concerns.
The meeting also discussed houses located along the railway tracks that have existed since before 2000. Authorities decided to hold off on immediate action against these residents while working towards a permanent solution. For daily commuters, residents say the priority is simple—turn the neglected space around the station into a clean, organised and safe public area.
Navi Mumbai ACB Arrests Inspector, Security Guard in ₹43,000 Bribe Case
Navi Mumbai Police Prepare Traffic Plan for New International Airport
Nerul Station Area Faces Safety Concerns Over Illegal Activities
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