Indian Navy has provided the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) with a Dornier aircraft, which will be operated by the MNDF.

In a statement, the Indian Embassy in the Maldives stated that the aircraft was part of an intergovernmental agreement. The statement also read that former administrations of the Maldives had also requested for such an aircraft for the purpose of enhancing security and joint EEZ surveillance and HADR

The requirement for such a surveillance aircraft was during a visit by former President Abdulla Yameen to India in 2016.

https://en.sun.mv/63165