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

In a bid to enhance its unmanned capabilities following Operation Sindoor, Indian armed forces have registered for more satellite-linked Heron Mk II Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as part of emergency procurement, sources in the Israeli defense industry said.

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

As per existing rules, under emergency procurement, the armed forces can purchase weapon systems, including entire systems, worth up to Rs 300 crore.

A senior Israeli defense industry official aware of the development stated that UAVs have become the center of modern warfare, with approximately 70% of battlefield operations ranging from front-line reconnaissance to deep penetration missions being carried out by unmanned aerial vehicles. It plays a decisive role against air defense systems, enabling the detection, tracking and neutralization of high-value threats.

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

Heron Mk II is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV that can carry a payload of nearly half a ton and can fly continuously for more than 24 hours. Equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), electro-optical systems and SIGINT sensors, the platform provides comprehensive ISR capabilities even in harsh weather conditions. Fully automatic takeoff and landing systems, combined with encrypted satellite communications, enable remote operations, flexible mission planning, and deployment in a variety of theaters without ground-based line-of-sight control.

In line with India’s efforts to indigenize defense, many Israeli defense industries, including state-owned defense manufacturers, are working with defense PSUs and private partners to increase local production. The companies are also creating training, maintenance and integration capabilities in India, the official said.

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

In September this year, the Ministry of Defense issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a major procurement of 87 MALE drones, focusing on an indigenous ‘Make in India’ program that also allows for foreign partnerships.