New Delhi: India is expanding its fleet of Israeli Heron drones after their effective use in recent operations and plans to arm them with advanced missiles to boost combat capability along its borders.

Defence officials told ANI that the armed forces are placing fresh orders for additional Herons following their successful deployment during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May this year. During the operation, the drones carried out crucial ISR tasks, strengthening India’s border surveillance capabilities.

What are Heron drones?

The Heron is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Israel. Known for its ability to fly long missions, it is primarily used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). In India, Herons are deployed by all three services - the Army, Navy and Air Force - from different bases. Intelligence agencies also use them for specialised operations.

Herons are widely used along both the China and Pakistan borders. Defence sources describe them as highly effective for long-range surveillance missions, giving Indian forces an edge in gathering critical intelligence.

In addition to the existing fleet, India has also been procuring the upgraded Heron Mark 2 drones. These models feature satellite communication systems that extend their operational range and allow longer missions, making them especially valuable for patrolling vast border areas.

Plans to weaponise

Officials confirmed that work is underway to arm Herons with Israeli-made Spike-NLOS (non-line-of-sight) anti-tank guided missiles. This upgrade would allow the UAVs not only to monitor enemy activity but also to strike at targets deep inside hostile territory during future conflicts.

The Indian Air Force and the Ministry of Defence have been running Project Cheetah to enhance the Heron fleet’s capabilities. The project aims to equip the UAVs with advanced sensors and combat features, turning them into multi-role assets capable of both reconnaissance and precision strikes.

Indigenous MALE drone programme

Alongside imports, India is pushing its own programme to develop Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones. The government plans to acquire 87 UAVs under a competitive process, with major defence players such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Solar Industries Defence and Aerospace, and Adani Defence expected to participate.

Some of these domestically developed drones may involve collaborations with Israeli manufacturers to blend foreign expertise with local production.

The armed forces have projected a need for nearly 400 MALE-class drones over the next 10 to 15 years. Officials say this mix of Israeli imports, upgraded platforms, and indigenous development will be key to meeting India’s long-term security needs.

(With inputs from ANI)