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The Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy will soon purchase more Heron drones from Israel. These drones played a key role in surveillance and intelligence missions against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May this year. Currently, all three armies and intelligence agencies possess Heron drones. This new purchase will further expand their numbers. Significantly, there are plans to equip some of these Heron drones with Spike-NLOS missiles. This will enable these drones to directly target enemy positions.
Heron drones are used for long-range surveillance along India’s borders with China and Pakistan. Recently, India also purchased the Heron Mk-2 version, which is equipped with satellite communications and can fly long distances.
Being even more powerful
Officials said that efforts are underway to arm these drones. A wing of the armed forces is working to equip the Herons with Spike-NLOS (Non-Line-of-Sight) anti-tank guided missiles. This will empower them to attack enemy positions during future conflicts. Heron drones are used for long-range surveillance along both the China and Pakistan borders. They have proven to be quite effective so far.
Indigenous Drone Development Continues
India is also working towards developing its own indigenous MALE drones. The government plans to purchase 87 drones for this purpose. Major companies like HAL, L&T, Solar Industries, and Adani Defence will participate in this project. Some of these drones may be manufactured in collaboration with Israel.
In the long run, the Indian armed forces will need more than 400 MALE drones. Defense experts believe that if these drones are produced on a large scale and indigenously, India can become completely self-reliant in the future.
