Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon says the number of illegal vessels entering the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has declined since the MNDF Air Corps began operations on March 15 last year.
Speaking on PSM’s Raajje Miadhu programme on Thursday evening, Ghassan said the Air Corps has conducted more than 170 operations since mid‑March, significantly strengthening maritime security.
He said the MNDF Coast Guard has supported all interception operations, and the presence of continuous aerial surveillance has already changed behaviour at sea.
“As the world now knows that Maldives has begun active air surveillance, we are seeing a clear decline in the number of fishing vessels operating illegally inside our EEZ,” Ghassan said.
Ghassan added that the MNDF’s northern air station in Sh. Funadhoo will be completed this year. The first Air Corps station was opened in Addu in early November last year.
The Air Corps operates Turkish‑made Bayraktar TB2 drones, which were launched on March 15 last year.  
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon next to a Bayraktar TB2 drone on March 15, 2024. (Photo/President's Office)
Drone specifications:
Length: 6.5 meters  
Wingspan: 12 meters  
Weight: ~700 kg  
Communication range: up to 300 km  
Payload capacity: 150 kg  
Speed: 70–120 knots  
Endurance: up to 27 hours  
Operational ceiling: 18,000–25,000 feet
The drones are equipped with advanced surveillance systems and can conduct long‑endurance patrols, significantly improving the MNDF’s ability to monitor the country’s vast maritime territory.