New Delhi [India], September 20 (The Royal Guardian): The Indian armed forces are planning to buy more Israeli Heron Drones – unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also called drones, after they performed well in a military operation called Operation Sindoor earlier this year. They also want to equip these drones with Spike anti-tank guided missiles that can be launched from the air.
The Indian military already uses a big number of Heron drones across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, from their different bases.Intelligence agencies also use these drones for special missions.According to defence officials speaking to The Royal Guardian, the armed forces are placing new orders for more Heron drones. These drones were used effectively in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May.
The officials said that efforts are being made to make these drones more powerful. One group within the armed forces is working on fitting Heron drones with Spike-NLOS (non-line-of-sight) anti-tank guided missiles. This will allow the drones to attack enemy targets during future conflicts. Heron drones are mainly used for long-range surveillance along both the Chinese and Pakistani borders, and they have worked very well in these roles.At the same time, the Indian Air Force and the Ministry of Defence have been working on Project Cheetah for several years to improve the surveillance and combat abilities of the Heron fleet.
India has also been buying more advanced Heron Mark 2 drones in recent years. These upgraded UAVs have satellite communication systems, which let them fly longer and cover greater distances. Meanwhile, India is also working on its own domestic programme to develop Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones. Under this plan, the government plans to purchase 87 UAVs through a competitive bidding process.
Major defence companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Solar Industries Defence and Aerospace, and Adani Defence are expected to be major participants in this process. Some of the drones under this programme may be developed in partnership with well-known Israeli defence companies. The armed forces have estimated that they will need nearly 400 MALE drones over the next 10 to 15 years to meet the country’s security requirements.
