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Israel: The successful use of the Heron MK-2 drone in Operation Sindoor has inspired India to further strengthen its surveillance capability. After this, India has signed an emergency agreement with Israel, under which additional consignments of these satellite-linked advanced drones will be purchased. This information was given by a senior official associated with the Israeli defense industry.
An Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) official said that the Indian Army and Air Force already have the Heron MK-2, and now they will also be included in the Navy. This will make the surveillance and intelligence capabilities of the three armies more coordinated.
According to the official, in September, India's Defense Ministry had issued an RFP for the purchase of 87 MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drones, in which the Make in India policy has been given priority. He said that India is a major defense partner for them and this partnership between the two countries is more than three decades old.
The Heron MK-2 is an advanced MALE drone, which can fly continuously for 45 hours and reach an altitude of 35,000 feet. Apart from the Israel Air Force, 20 military organizations around the world are using this drone in their fleet.
IAI made it clear that their aim is not just to supply drones but also to take an active part in their manufacturing in India. The company wants to work on a made-in-India version of the Heron, which will include more than 60% Indian components. Technology transfer will also be done for this.
India is preparing to buy six new flight refueling aircraft, and a tender for this was issued with Make in India conditions. Under this condition, up to 30% Made in India content is mandatory. Only IAI met these standards; hence, it is the last contender left in this race of Rs 8,000 crore.
Russian and European companies could not meet this requirement. IAI Executive Vice President Yehuda Lahav did not specify where the planes would be produced, but according to defense sources, if the agreement is reached, six second-hand Boeing 767 passenger planes will be converted into tanker aircraft.
The Indian Air Force currently has Russian-origin IL-78 tankers, which play an important role for both the Air Force and the Navy. In the last 15 years, attempts were made to buy six more tankers, but due to various reasons the deals could not be completed. The new proposal is being considered major progress in this direction.
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