Queen of the Battlefield: India to Procure More Heron MK II Drones After Operation Sindoor Success

India has signed up to procure additional satellite-linked Heron MK II drones under emergency provisions. The decision comes after the effective use of Heron MKII during Operation Sindoor. The Heron MK II Unmanned

Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), already in service with the Indian Army and Air Force, will now be incorporated into the Indian Navy, reported PTI citing a source working with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).After Operation Sindoor, all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces have selected the Heron MK II for emergency procurement, the official stated, but did not disclose the numbers. "We are very proud that all three branches decided to purchase and operate the Heron Mark II," he said. "For us, India is a major customer," the unnamed IAI official told the news agency. "Our partnership spans over three decades and generations of systems." Notably, the defence ministry in September had issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the acquisition of 87 MALE drones, with a focus on an indigenous “Make in India” programme that allows foreign collaboration.The UAVs have now evolved from simple surveillance tools to the "Queen of the battlefield," operating thousands of kilometres away, providing multi-sensor capabilities, and even playing a major role against enemy air defences, the official said.

5 Things To Know About Heron MK II Drones

1. The Heron MK II is a satellite-linked Medium Altitude Long Endurance or MALE UAV
2. The Heron MK II drones are capable of reaching an altitude of 35,000 feet
3. Heron MK II drones can remain air-borne for 45 consecutive hours.
4. It is operated by the Israeli Air Force and over 20 other entities globally.
5. These drones are primarily deployed along the international borders along Pakistan and China for long-range surveillance.

Heron MK II Drones To Be Made-in-India?

The Israeli official said that the company was fully aware of New Delhi's Make-in-India push. “We are fully aware of 'Make in India' and are collaborating closely with our local partners to meet those requirements," the IAI official said. He added that one of these partners is HAL, while another is Elcom.The IAI intends not only to supply these advanced systems but also to manufacture them in India, the official said, adding that the Indian Armed Forces will have an Indian version of Heron MK II drones. "What we want to do is to manufacture the systems in India. So it will be an Indian version of the Heron," he said. This ambitious vision includes a significant push for technology transfer and an aim for upwards of 60 per cent indigenous Indian manufacturing content.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)