ISLAMABAD: India has quietly launched a new procurement cycle foradditional Israeli Heron Mark-II medium-altitude long-endurance unmannedaerial vehicles, invoking the same emergency financial powers exercisedduring Operation Sindoor earlier this year, multiple defence sources haveconfirmed.
Israeli industry insiders told international defence publications thatcontracts for an undisclosed number of upgraded Heron MK-II platforms arealready in the final stages of negotiation. The drones, equipped withsatellite communication systems, offer 45 hours of continuous flight timeand can operate at altitudes up to 35,000 feet while carrying multipleintelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance payloads.
The fresh acquisition follows the rapid induction of ten Heron MK-IIsystems earlier in 2025 under emergency provisions that bypassed standardprocurement procedures. Defence analysts note that the expanded fleet isexplicitly intended to strengthen persistent monitoring along the Line ofControl with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control with China.
Parallel to the direct purchase, New Delhi is holding advanced talks withIsrael Aerospace Industries, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and private firmElcom Systems for transfer of technology and local production of the droneunder the Make in India initiative. Sources indicate that a joint ventureframework could be announced within months, marking a significant deepeningof the India-Israel defence partnership.
Military observers point out that the Heron MK-II’s beyond-line-of-sightcapability through SATCOM allows real-time intelligence gathering deepinside adversarial territory, a capacity India considers vital after recentcross-border incidents. The platform can simultaneously operateelectro-optical, infrared, synthetic aperture radar and electronicintelligence sensors, providing round-the-clock coverage that mannedaircraft cannot match.
The development comes at a time when Pakistan has repeatedly warned againstthe destabilising impact of advanced surveillance and strike-capablesystems along the disputed borders. Defence experts in Islamabad view theaccelerated induction and planned indigenous manufacturing as part of abroader Indian strategy to achieve overwhelming intelligence superiorityover both western and northern frontiers.
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The timing of the deal has raised concerns in regional capitals, withanalysts warning that the enhanced drone coverage could lower the thresholdfor pre-emptive military actions based on real-time battlefieldintelligence. Pakistan’s military leadership has consistently maintainedthat such asymmetric capabilities upset the strategic balance in South Asiaand increase the risk of miscalculation.
Source:https://www.janes.com/defence-news/air/india-advances-heron-mk-ii-expansion-with-israel
Tags: India, Israel, Pakistan, China, IAI, HAL, LoC, LAC
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