Malfunctioning drone strikes Navy ship

An aerial target drone malfunctioned and struck a U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser during training off Southern California, causing two minor injuries, the Navy said.

The incident comes amid rising concerns about the use of drones in U.S. military combat operations, and plans for widespread civilian applications in the United States – mostly for information-gathering – by police departments and other entities.

Lt. Lenaya Rotklein of the U.S. Third Fleet said the accident on the USS Chancellorsville happened on Saturday while the ship was testing its combat weapons system off Point Mugu, which is just outside of Los Angeles. About 300 crew members were aboard the ship.

Two sailors were treated for minor burns after the ship was struck on its port side by the unmanned craft, which was 13 feet long, 1 foot in diameter and had a wingspan of nearly 6 feet, Rotklein said.

She said the ship was heading back to Naval Base San Diego so that officials can assess the damage as they investigate the cause of the drone malfunction.

Rotklein said the drone was being used to test the ship's radar. She had no immediate information about whether the drone had malfunctioned before.

She identified the aerial drone as a BQM-74 series, manufactured by Aerospace giant Northrop Grumman Corp. Rotklein said the Navy often uses the unmanned aircraft to test weapons systems. According to the company website, the drones can simulate enemy missiles or aircraft.

The U.S. military also uses drones to fire missiles in operations abroad. The controversial program has been criticized for causing extensive civilian casualties, especially in Pakistan and Yemen.

Al Jazeera and The Associated Press