There is no point in blaming the IA, even a person like me who has a limited knowledge can understand that fault lies in DRDO not in IA handling. Moreover due to the access IA enjoys to Israeli UAVs have made them think that the DRDO's UAV are useless and you cannot blame them.
DRDO has started more projects then it can handle and that is one of the reasons that we hear about their failure every now and then may be they should sort out the matters and handle fewer projects in a time.
Its not the DRDO handling more projects. If going into deep Drones suffer from the usual aircraft mechanical and pilot failures, but they also grapple with uniquely drone-ish issues: They're harder to launch and land, and lost communication links pose a problem. But as drones spend more time aloft, operators and craft manufacturers have had a chance to find and iron out kinks in the machinery. Most drones today are of the larger military variety, but that'll change.
Big drones actually crash a lot. Official statistics on large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) accident rates vary, but drones are 30 to 300 times more likely to crash than small civil aircrafts, according to
one estimate. According to a 2005
Department of Defense report, every 100,000 flight hours saw 191 AAI Shadow UAVs destroyed or in need of drastic repairs, compared to just four manned F-16s.
Why do they fail?
Because they don't carry a human life, drones are sometimes pushed harder than piloted planes. In one instance, a Reaper drone was running perilously low on fuel as it neared its destination, but controllers felt that the target was important enough to sacrifice a drone. So they kept going,
Peter Singer, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution told NBC News, citing a private Air Force briefing.
In another instance, a drone ran out of missiles. "But they really wanted the target, so they turned that system into a kamikaze," Singer said.
Like manned aircrafts, UAVs can run out of fuel or encounter mechanical failures,
John Hansman, an aviation researcher at MIT, told NBC News. Though such problems aren't drone specific, they are significant — a
DoD survey showed that 57 percent of accidents until 2005 were caused by flight control issues or engine or transmission problems.
According to this report
https://www.rt.com/usa/167396-pentagon-crash-400-military-drones/
Following an investigation into more than 50,000 pages of federal and military records, the Washington Post found that more than 400 large American drones have crashed since 2001, with almost half of the accidents each causing millions of dollars in damages.
Last updated: Oct. 2015
Date Operating nation Drone type Cause details Location Source*
Sep 24 2015 US Air Force? MQ-1 Predator? Derna, Libya
Press report
Sep 18 2015 Pakistan Air Force Sargodha, Pakistan
Press report
Aug 11 2015 Iranian Air Force Shahed-129 Iran/Pakistan border
Press report
Jul 16 2015 US Air Force MQ-1 Predator Southern Iraq
Press report
Jul 11 2015 Israeli Air Force Hermes 450? Lebanon
Press report
Jul 5 2015 UAE Air Force? Seeker 200 Shot down Yemen
Press report
Jun 24 2015 US Marine Corp RQ-7B Shadow North Carolina, US
Press report
Jun 22 2015 US Air Force MQ-1 Predator Southeast Iraq
USAF press release
Jun 21 2015 Israeli Air Force Lebanon
Press report
May 27 2015 US Air Force Classified Southern Iraq
Press report
May 17 2015 US Air Force? Bashir, Somalia
Press report
May 1 2015 US Air Force MQ-1 Predator Nevada, US
USAF press release
Mar 17 2015 US Air Force MQ-1 Predator Shot down Latakia, Syria
USAF safety report
Mar ? 2015 Iranian Air Force Ababil-3? Khurmatoo, Iraq
Press report
Mar 1 2015 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Electrics failure ? Centcom AoR
USAF Investigation
Feb 4 2015 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Electrics failure Off coast Africa
USAF Investigation
Jan 31 2015 US Predator? Yemen
Press report
Jan 26 2015 Nigeria CASC CH-3 Borno, Nigeria
Press report
Jan 23 2015 US Air Force MQ-1 Predator New Mexico, US
Press report
Jan 09 2015 Indian Air Force Heron Barmer, India
Press report
2014
Dec 12 2014 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Electrics failure ? Centcom AoR
USAF Investigation
Dec 11 2014 US Air Force MQ-9A Reaper Pilot error Nevada, US
USAF Investigation
Nov 26 2014 Indian Air Force Heron Kutch, India
Press report
Oct 20 2014 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Niamey, Nigeria
Press report
Oct 20 2014 UN Falco DR Congo
Press report
Sep 23 2014 US Air Force? Predator? Yemen
Press report
Sep 18 2014 NATO ISAF Unknown Afghanistan
Press report
Jul 14 2014 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Engine failure Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Jun 27 2014 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Right wing control fail Nevada, US
Press Report
Jun 25 2014 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Weather / mech fail Jalalabad, Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Jun 23 2014 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mechanical failure Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Apr 26 2014 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Oil leak Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Apr 04 2014 US Air Force Predator Pilot error US, Nevada
USAF Investigation
Jan 28 2014 US DHS MQ-1B Predator Mechanical failure California, US
Press Report
Jan 17 2014 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mechanical failure Mediterranean
USAF Investigation
Jan17 2014 Ecuador Navy Searcher-II Ecuador
Press Report
Jan 16 2014 US Air Force Predator? Yemen
Press Report
Jan 15 2014 UN Falco DR Congo
Press Report
2013
Dec 13 2013 Indian Army Heron-1 Tamil Nadu, India
Press Report
Dec 06 2013 Turkish Air Force Anka Turkey
Press Report
Nov 28 2013 Indian Army Unknown India
Press Report
Nov 14 2013 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Nevada, USA
Press Report
Nov 13 2013 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Afghanistan
WaPo database
Nov 12 2013 USAF MQ-9 Reaper Lake Ontario, USA
Press Report
Oct 30 2013 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator New Mexico, US
Press report
Oct 24 2013 US Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout Maryland, US
WaPo database
Oct 16 2013 US Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle Lost link Afghanistan
WaPo database
Oct 08 2013 Israeli Air Force Hermes 450 Israel
Press report
Sep 23 2013 US Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle Afghanistan
WaPo database
Sept 17 2013 USAF MQ-1B Predator Lost link Off coast of Sicily
WaPo database
Aug 14 2013 US Army MQ-1B Warrior Lost link Afghanistan
WaPo database
July 25 2013 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper New Mexico, USA
Press Report
July 24 2013 US Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle Afghanistan
WaPo database
July 14 2013 Israeli Air Force Hermes 450 Israel/Egypt bdr
Press Report
Jun 27 2013 US MQ-1B Predator Mechanical Failure Afghanistan
Press Report
June 5 2013 US Marines K-Max Afghanistan
Press Report
May 27 2013 US S-100 Camcopter Somalia
Press Report
May 13 2013 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Propeller problems Nevada, USA
Press Report
May 11 2013 USAF MQ-1 Predator Afghanistan
WaPo database
May 11 2013 Israeli Air Force Heron-1 Engine failure Israel
Press Report
Apr 22 2013 Russian Air Force Unknown Kazakhstan
Press Report
Apr 9 2013 US Air Force USAF MQ – 9 Reaper Mechanical failure Mali
Press Report
Apr 5 2013 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Severe weather Gulf of Aden
WaPo database
Mar 29 2013 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Struck by lightening Afghanistan
WaPo database
Feb 28 2013 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Afghanistan
WaPo database
Mar 2 2013 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Electronics failure Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
2013 US Air Force MQ-1 Predator ?
WaPo database
2012
Dec 21 2012 US Air Force unknown South Waziristan
Press Report
Dec 13 2012 US Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout Off Libyan coast
WaPo database
Dec 5 2012 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Nevada, US
Press Report
Nov 30 2012 US Army MQ 5-B Hunter Engine failure Afghanistan
WaPo database
Nov 14 2012 US Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle Engine failure Afghanistan
WaPo database
Oct 26 2012 US Air Force MQ-1Predator Afghanistan
USAF Press Release
Oct 11 2012 US Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle Engine failure Afghanistan
WaPo database
Sept 27 2012 Turkish Air Force / TAI Anka Turkey
Press report
Sept 25 2012 US Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle Engine failure Afghanistan
WaPo database
Sept 18 2012 US Air Force MQ-1Predator Lost link Iraq
USAF Press Release
Aug 22 2012 US Air Force MQ-1Predator Electrical fault Afghanistan
USAF Press Release
July 25 2012 US Air Force/GA Predator Crash on runway Arizona, US
Press Report
July 25 2012 US Air Force/GA Grey Eagle Crash on runway Arizona, US
Press Report
July 24 2012 USAF MQ-1B Predator Pilot error Afghanistan
WaPo database
July 20 2012 US Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle Afghanistan
WaPo database
July 11 2012 US Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle Engine failure Afghanistan
WaPo database
Jun 19 2012 Unknown Unknown Afghanistan
Press Report
Jun 11 2012 US Navy RQ-4A BAMS Maryland, USA
Navy press release
May 19 2012 Pakistan army Unknown Pakistan
Press Report
May 10 2012 Schiebel Schiebel S-100 Lost link South Korea
Press Report
April 14 2012 US Air Force MQ1-B Predator Engine failure Afghanistan
Press Report
April 6 2012 US Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout Afghanistan
WaPo database
April 4 2012 US Air Force MQ-9A Reapers Pilot error Seychelles
WaPo database
Mar 31 2012 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper
WaPo database
Mar 30 2012 US Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout off West Africa
WaPo database
Mar 21 2012 US Army MQ-1B Warrior Lost link Afghanistan
WaPo database
Feb 25 2012 US Air Force Unknown Pakistan
Press Report
Feb 21 2012 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mechanical failure Djibouti
USAF Investigation
Feb 16 2012 Indian Navy Searcher II India
Press Report
Feb 14 2012 US Air Force MQ1-B Predator Mechanical failure Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Feb 3 2012 Unknown Unknown Somalia
Press Report
Jan30 2012 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mechanical failure Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Jan 29 2012 Israel Air Force Heron TP Israel
Press Report
Jan 10 2012 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Pilot error Georgia, US
WaPo database
2012 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator
WaPo database
2012 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper
WaPo database
2011
Dec 27 2011 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Afghanistan
Press Report
Dec 13 2011 US Air Force MQ-9 Predator Seychelles
USAF Investigation
Dec 4 2011 US Air Force MQ-170 Sentinel Iran
Press Report
Nov 11 2011 Turkey Air Force Heron-1 Turkey
Press Report
Oct 7 2011 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper New Mexico
Press Report
Oct 2 2011 UK Army Hermes 450 Afghanistan
MAA Investigation
Sep 22 2011 US Army MQ-1B Warrior Engine failure Afghanistan
WaPo database
Aug 24 2011 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper New Mexico, US
Press Report
Aug 24 2011 Chinese Pterodactyl China
Press Report
Aug 20 2011 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mechanical failure Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Aug 20 2011 US Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Jul 19 2011 Pakistan Navy Unknown Pakistan
Press report
July 10 2011 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Jun 28 2011 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Bad weather Afghanistan
ISAF report
June 5 2011 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Lightning strike Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
May 20 2011 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Nevada, US
WaPo database
May 17 2011 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Djibouti
USAF Investigation
May 7 2011 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Djibouti
USAF Investigation
May 5 2011 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
May 1 2011 US Air Force MQ-1 Predator Engine failure Afghanistan
UASF Investigation
May ? 2011 UK Army Hermes 450 Afghanistan
MAA Investigation
Apr 1 2011 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper New Mexico, US
Press reports
Apr 1 2011 US AeroVironment Global Observer 1 California
Press report
Mar 16 2011 US Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle California, US
WaPo database
Mar 15 2011 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Djibouti
WaPo database
Mar 4 2011 Turkey Air Force Heron -1 Turkey
Press Report
Feb 8 2011 USAF Air Force Predator MQ-1 Yemen
Press Report
Feb 7 2011 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Pilot error Iraq
WaPo database
Jan 14 2011 USAF Air Force Predator MQ-1B Engine failure Djibouti
USAF Investigation
Jan 3 2011 USAF Air Force Predator MQ-1B Kandahar
USAF Investigation
2010
Dec 9 2010 USAF Air Force Predator MQ-1B Pilot error Kandahar
USAF Investigation
Nov 02 2010 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Lost links Afghanistan
WaPo database
Oct 28 2010 USAF Air Force MQ-9 Reaper New Mexico, US
Press Report
Oct 22 2010 USAF Air Force MQ-1 Predator New Mexico, US
US Press Release
Oct 17 2010 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Afghanistan
WaPo database
Sep 19 2010 USAF Air Force Predator MQ-1B Mechanical failure Kabul
USAF Investigation
Aug 31 2010 USAF Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Pilot error US California
WaPo database
Aug 18 2010 US Army MQ-1B Warrior Lost link Iraq
WaPo database
Aug 16 2010 USAF Air Force Predator MQ-1B Pilot error Iraq
USAF Investigation
Jul 29 2010 DARPA/Boeing A160T Pilot error California, US
Press Report
Jul 28 2010 USAF Air Force Predator MQ-1B Pilot error New Mexico, US
USAF Investigation
Jul 16 2010 Canadian Air Force Heron-1 Canada
Press Report
June 4 2010 Australian Air Force Heron-1 Afghanistan
Press Report
May 14 2010 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Weather Iraq
WaPo database
Apr 20 2010 USAF Air Force MQ-1B Predator Pilot error US, California
USAF Investigation
Mar 14 2010 USAF Air Force MQ-1B Predator Afghanistan
WaPo database
Feb 13 2010 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Afghanistan
WaPo database
Feb 09 2010 USAF Air Force MQ-1B Predator Afghanistan
Press Report
Jan 24 2010 US Air Force Afghan/Pakistan
Press Report
Jan 15 2010 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Pilot error Afghanistan
WaPo database
Jan 14 2010 USAF Air Force MQ-1B Predator Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Jan 13 2010 Italian Air Force RQ-1B Predator A Off Italian coast
Press Report
2009
Dec 13 2009 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Afghanistan
Wikileaks War Logs
Nov 20 2009 USAF Air Force MQ-1B Predator Lost link Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Nov 14 2009 US Army MQ-1B Warrior Afghanistan
Wikileaks War Logs
Oct 3 2009 USAF Air Force MQ-1B Predator Pilot error Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Sep 24 2009 German Army LUNA Afghanistan
Wikileaks War Logs
Sep 14 2009 USAF Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mechanical failure Iraq
Wikileaks War Log
Sep 13 2009 USAF Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Lost link Afghanistan
Press Report
Sep 11 2009 USAF Air Force MQ-1 Predator New Mexico, US
WaPo database
Sep 04 2009 USAF Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mechanical failure Afghanistan
Wikileaks War Logs
Aug 22 2009 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Fuel leak Iraq
WaPo database
Aug 13 2009 USAF Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mech. failure Iraq
USAF Investigation
Aug 12 2009 US Army I-GNAT Iraq
Wikileaks War Logs
July 04 2009 USAF Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Afghanistan
Wikileaks War Logs
Jun 12 2009 USAF Air Force RQ-1 Predator Nevada, US
WaPo database
Jun 02 2009 UK Army Hermes 450 Engine Failure Afghanistan
Wikileaks War Logs
May 28 2009 US Air Force RQ-4A Global Hawk California, US
WaPo database
May 13 2009 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
May 08 2009 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mech.failure Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Apr 28 2009 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mechanical failure Nevada. US
USAF Investigtion
Apr 21 2009 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Iraq
WaPo database
Apr 20 2009 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Electrical failure Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Apr 10 2009 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Georgia, US
WaPo database
Mar 20 2009 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Mechanical failure California, US
USAF Investigation
Mar 14 2009 Canadian Air Force SPERWER Afghanistan
Wikileaks War Logs
Feb 22 2009 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Electrical failure Iraq
Wikileaks War Logs
Feb 08 2009 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Afghanistan
WaPo database
2009 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper ?
WaPo database
2008
Dec 04 2008 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Iraq
Wikileaks War Logs
Nov 20 2008 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Afghanistan
Wikileaks War Logs
Nov 17 2008 US Army MQ-1C Warrior California, US
WaPo database
Nov 02 2008 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Pilot error Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Oct 25 2008 Canadian Air Force Sperwer Afghanistan
Wikileaks War Logs
Oct 21 2008 Canadian Air Force Sperwer Afghanistan
Wikileaks War Logs
Oct 19 2008 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mech.problems Iraq
USAF Investigation
Sep 9 2008 US Air Force MQ-9A Reaper California, US
WaPo database
Sep 8 2008 US Air Force MQ-1 Predator Iraq
WaPo database
Aug 01 2008 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Electrical failure Iraq
Wikileaks War Logs
Jul 21 2008 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Lost link Afghanistan
USAF Investigation
Jul 13 2008 US Army RQ-1C Warrior Iraq
WaPo database
Jul 11 2008 US Army MQ-5A Hunter Engine failure Iraq
WaPo database
Jun 13 2008 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Afghanistan
WaPo database
Jun 02 2008 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Electrical failure Iraq
USAF Investigation
May 12 2008 US Air Force MQ-9A Reaper
WaPo database
May 7 2008 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Arizona, US
WaPo database
May 02 2008 US Air Force crash MQ-1B Predator Engine failure Iraq
Wikileaks War Logs
Apr 09 2008 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Mech. failure Iraq
USAF Investigation
Apr 09 2008 UK RAF MQ-9 Reaper Mech. failure Afghanistan
Press report
Mar 22 2008 US Army RQ-1L Gnat Lost link Afghanistan
WaPo database
Mar 11 2008 US Army MQ-5A Hunter Pilot error Iraq
WaPo database
Jan 28 2008 US Army RQ-1C Warrior Lost link Afghanistan
WaPo database
Jan 23 2008 US Air Force MQ-9A Reaper ?
WaPo database
Jan 13 2008 UK Army Hermes 450 Iraq
Wikileaks War Logs
2008 US Air Force MQ-1 Predator ?
WaPo database
2007
Dec 17 2007 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Power failure Iraq
Wikileaks War Logs
Dec 11 2007 US DARPA / Boeing A160T California, US
Press Report
Dec 7 2007 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Lost link Iraq
WaPo database
Nov 20 2007 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Left wing fell off Iraq
WaPo database
Sep 4 2007 US Air Force MQ-9A Reaper Nevada, US
WaPo database
Aug 29 2007 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Engine failure Iraq
WaPo database
Aug 20 2007 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator
USAF Investigation
Jul 31 2007 US Air force MQ-1L Predator Engine failure Iraq
USAF Investigation
Jul 30 2007 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Engine failure Iraq
USAF Investigation
Jun 4 2007 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Lost link Iraq
WaPo database
Apr 21 2007 US Army RQ-1C Warrior Iraq
WaPo database
Apr 1 2007 US Army MQ-5B Hunter Engine failure Iraq
WaPo database
Feb 23 2007 US Air Force MQ-1L Predator Engine failure Afghanistan
WaPo database
Jan 17 2007 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator Engine failure Iraq
USAF Investigation
2007 US Air Force MQ-1B Predator ? ?
WaPo database