An Indian ship with 34 crew members has been stranded for several days near the Strait of Hormuz as Iran, engaged in battle with the US and Israel, has blocked it. The tanker -- under the command of Captain Virendra Vishwakarma -- is loaded with enough LPG to fill 3.6 million domestic gas cylinders. With missiles and drones regularly flying past, the Captain and crew have been calling desperately for help. The vessel had departed from the Mina Al Ahmadi port in Kuwait, bound for the Deendayal Kandla Port in Gujarat. The restrictions imposed on this maritime route since February 28 have brought the ship to a halt. It is now anchored in the Mina Saqr port area near the UAE, awaiting its turn to proceed. Read: India-Bound LPG Tanker Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Amid Iran Blockade: Sources In an emotional message sent from the ship, Captain Virendra has described the terrifying scene unfolding around them. "Missiles and drones are flying directly over us. Sirens are blaring everywher...
The Shahed drone's biggest strength is that it is very cheap to build and deploy, but gives the effect of a much more powerful weapon than its size. Others may be forced to expend their pricey anti-drone missiles, making interception of the Shahed drones a costly affair. Most weaponised drones have range and weight limitations. The Shahed works around these by acting as a drone and a cruise missile rolled into one. The Shahed-136, for example, can reach a maximum of 2,500 km. Iran has been able to launch the Shahed drones from deep within its territory, far away from any prying eyes. This has ensured their survivability and unpredictableness. Its payload capability is also good, at par with its range strength. The Shahed drones fly at very low altitude, powered by a basic piston propulsion system. When these qualities are combined with its small radar signature, they are hard to detect in areas where the terrain is uneven. Some have called the Shahed drones' engine noise t...