After their successful performance in Operation Sindoor earlier this year, where they were widely used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions against Pakistan, India plans to increase its fleet of Heron drones from Israel.
At the same time as efforts to weaponize Heron UAVs are progressing, the military is now taking steps to obtain more of them. Herons will be converted from passive surveillance platforms into armed strike capabilities that can engage adversaries beyond visual range by adding Spike-NLOS (non-line-of-sight) anti-tank guided missiles.
The Army, Navy, and Air Force already use Heron drones for long-range surveillance along the Pakistani and Chinese borders. They are also used by intelligence organizations for specialized surveillance tasks.
The Ministry of Defence has accelerated ongoing projects, like as Project Cheetah, which intends to equip the current Heron fleet with sophisticated sensors, electronic intelligence payloads, and precision attack capability, in response to their increasing usefulness.
In order to increase operational endurance and reach for persistent ISR and deep-penetration missions, the IAF has now begun introducing the Heron Mk2 model outfitted with satellite communication (SATCOM) gear.
In parallel, the Indian government is preparing to purchase 87 medium altitude long endurance (MALE) drones in a competitive procedure that involves domestic industry as part of its ongoing indigenous effort.
Principal bidders are anticipated to include defense heavyweights like HAL, Larsen & Toubro, Adani Defence, and Solar Industries; some of them are probably going to work with well-known Israeli drone producers to speed up development. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat project, these domestic UAVs will supplement platforms bought from abroad and offer sovereign production capabilities.
Given the amount of surveillance required across two active borders and the aim to improve armed UAV capabilities, the armed forces anticipate a long-term demand for about 400 MALE-class drones over the course of the next ten and a half years.
A complete national policy to ensure continuous ISR coverage, cross-border strike potential, and future-proofed unmanned warfare capabilities against regional enemies is indicated by this tiered acquisition, which includes everything from improved Herons with weaponization packages to an indigenous MALE fleet.
