India-donated coastal surveillance radar system inaugurated

The extended coastal surveillance radar system established in Maldives with assistance from India to strengthen maritime security has been officially handed over to Maldives. 

The system was inaugurated by Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in a ceremony on Sunday. 

Chief of Defense Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal commented that the system would elevate search and rescue capabilities of Maldives, and monitor illegal activities at sea, increasing maritime domain awareness. 

10 radars have been established across Maldives under the project, which was carried out in two phases. 

The radars will be controlled from the main center in Vilimale’ inaugurated on Sunday. 

MNDF states that the systems will be linked via a main network to similar systems established in Sri Lanka, India, Mauritius, and Seychelles. 

The radar stations will be operated by trained MNDF Coastguard officers. 

MNDF said that the system will expand the agency’s capabilities, and improve the efficiency of the execution of MNDF’s duties and responsibilities.