The Indian Army’s surveillance capabilities have received new heights as Israel has delivered advanced Heron drones under the emergency procurement clause to keep an eye on the Chinese activities in the Ladakh Sector .
The advance Israeli Heron drones have arrived in the country and are being deployed for surveillance operation in the eastern Ladakh sector according to ANI .
“With their long-range radars and sensors, anti-jamming capability and the ability to reach an altitude of 35,000-feet, the Heron Mark-II drones will be able to gather all kinds of intelligence across the LAC without even flying close to it,” The Times of India reported in May, quoting a source in the government.
These drones are operational now and are far more advanced than the herons in the existing inventory and their anti-jamming capability is much better than their previous versions , according to sources .
The Indian Defence forces have been taking these initiatives to acquire weapons that can help them in ongoing conflict with China . The last time such a facility was given to the defence forces in 2019 right after the Balakot airstrikes against the terrorist camps of Pakistan .
More than 180 Israeli UAVs, including 68 Heron 1s are currently being used for surveillance and intelligence gathering by the Indian Air Force. The new Heron II is an upgraded version of the original Heron UAVs that were purchased by India over the years. Although smaller in size, the original Herons cannot be armed .
