New Delhi: The Indian Army will soon get Israeli Heron and American mini drones to upgrade its surveillance capabilities in Eastern Ladakh and other areas along the China border.
“The deals for the acquisition of the Heron surveillance drones is in the final stages and is expected to be inked in December. The Herons are going to be deployed in the Ladakh sector and they will be more advanced than the existing fleet in the Indian armed forces,” government sources were quoted as saying by ANI.
The acquisition of these drones is being done under the emergency financial powers granted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to the defence forces under which they can buy equipment and systems worth ₹500 crores to upgrade their warfighting capabilities, amid ongoing border conflict with China, they added.
The sources were further quoted as saying that the other small or mini drones that are being acquired from the US will be provided at the Battalion level to the troops on ground and the hand-operated drones would be used to attain awareness about a specific location or area in their respective areas of responsibility.