Indian armed forces to procure more satellite-linked Heron Mk II UAVs under emergency procurement

To enhance their unmanned capabilities in the wake of Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces have signed up for more satellite-linked Heron Mk II Unmanned Aerial Vehicles under emergency procurement, sources in the Israeli defence industry said.

According to the sources, the Army and Air Force, which already operate Heron Mk II drones, have placed additional orders while the Indian Navy is acquiring them for the first time. The Navy, which has long relied on Israeli-made Searcher UAVs for surveillance, will soon transition to the more advanced Heron Mk II platform.

As per existing guidelines, under emergency procurement, armed forces can procure weapons systems, including entire systems, worth up to ₹300 crore.

A senior Israel defence industry official, who was aware of the development, informed that UAVs have become central to modern warfare, with nearly 70% of battlefield operations conducted by drones across the spectrum, from frontline reconnaissance to deep-penetration missions. They play a decisive role against air defence systems, enabling detection, tracking and neutralisation of high-value threats.

The Heron family, especially the Heron Mk II, has emerged as a key component of this evolving combat environment due to its versatility and proven reliability. Indian Army has deployed these drones at forward bases in northern sector.

The Heron Mk II is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV capable of carrying close to half a tonne of payload and sustaining more than 24 hours of continuous flight. Equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), electro-optical systems, and SIGINT sensors, the platform provides comprehensive ISR capabilities even in challenging weather conditions. Its fully automated take-off and landing systems, coupled with encrypted satellite communication, enable remote operations, flexible mission planning and deployment across varied theatres without ground-based line-of-sight control.

In line with India’s push for defence indigenisation, several Israel defence industries including state-owned defence manufacturers are working with defence PSUs and private partners to enhance local production. The companies are also creating training, maintenance and integration capabilities within India, the official said.

Israeli manufacturers are actively preparing for future Indian tenders under the “Make in India” framework and exploring deeper partnerships to meet compliance requirements.

In September this year, Ministry of Defence issued Request for Proposal (RFP) for major acquisition of 87 MALE drones, with a focus on an indigenous “Make in India” programme that also allows foreign partnerships.