What is Heron MK-II? India plans to procure Israeli drones against Pakistani threat post Op Sindoor, it is capable of…

India begins procurement of more Israeli Heron MK-II unmanned aerial vehicles (ANI)

According to sources in the Israeli defense industry, India has started purchasing more Israeli Heron MK-II drones under emergency provisions implemented after Operation Sindoor. Sources said that talks to manufacture the advanced UAV in India are also ongoing; This is a move that could eventually pave the way for full technology transfer and significantly deepen Make in India’s footprint in the defense sector.

How does India plan to procure the Heron MK-II?

“All the three branches have decided to purchase the MK-II and we are proud that the Navy has also taken this decision,” a source told ANI. Sources declined to specify the number of drones the Navy plans to acquire but said the focus is currently on MK-II production in India through partnerships with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Elcom.

India started procuring Heron MK-II unmanned aerial vehicles under emergency powers in 2021 following tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. After it was clarified that the variant was the Heron MK-II and not the Heron TP, four units were initially ordered, two for the Army and two for the Air Force.

“We are keenly aware of Make in India and are working closely with our local partners to ensure it meets these requirements,” an IAI official said. “One of our partners is HAL and the other is Elcom. Our aim is to manufacture the systems in India and create the Indian version of Heron; not just MK-II but other systems as well.”

IAI is also working to meet Indigenous Content (IC) standards, which are mandatory for upcoming major tenders in the MALE UAV segment that require 60 percent local work and production. “We are aiming for this in any future project,” the official added.

What are Heron Drones?

Developed by IAI, Heron MK-II is a medium altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle with a maximum take-off weight of 1,430 kg. It offers 45 hours of flight time, a service ceiling of 35,000 ft and a top speed of 150 knots.

Heron drones are used primarily for long-range surveillance along both the Chinese and Pakistani borders and have proven to be extremely effective. In parallel, the Indian Air Force and the Ministry of Defense are working on Project Cheetah to improve the surveillance and combat capabilities of the existing Heron fleet. India has also been implementing more advanced Heron MK-II systems equipped with satellite communications (SATCOM) in recent years, allowing for wider-range operations and longer missions.