Categories: World

Advanced Heron drones arrive from Israel, being deployed in Ladakh to deter China

<p>
<strong>The Indian Army has acquired advanced Heron drones from Israel, giving a major boost to surveillance operations in the eastern Ladakh sector where they are being deployed amid the ongoing India-China border tensions.</strong></p>
<p>
The acquisition of these drones has been done under the emergency financial powers granted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to the defence forces.<br />
<br />
These financial powers were given for both routine as well as emergency procurements with the aim to reduce procurement time-frames and enhance defence preparedness.<br />
<br />
The delivery of the drones, reported Hindustan Times quoting news agency ANI, was delayed by a few months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>
<p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NZk5ElC9afU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>
"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," the <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/army-receives-new-israeli-heron-drones-for-deployment-in-ladakh-sector-101638265519344.html">report</a> mentioned quoting a top government source as saying that the new equipment is being deployed for surveillance operations in the eastern Ladakh sector.</p>
<p>
India has been one of the biggest buyers of Israel's military hardware. Israel has been supplying various state-of-art the weapon systems, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to India in recent years.<br />
<br />
Both countries have recently signed an agreement to jointly develop next-generation technologies and products such as drones, robotics, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.<br />
<br />
The Modi government, meanwhile, continues to undertake a number of projects as part of its 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative to strengthen the defence sector and ensure strategic independence.<br />
<br />
This includes the structural and organisational reforms in the defence sector, including corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Board; setting up of defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; increase in Foreign Direct Investment and draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020.<br />
<br />
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had handed over two drones for surveillance and logistical support to the Army while laying the foundation stone of the first project of the Jhansi node of the UP Defence Industrial Corridor.</p>
<p>
<strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/stage-set-for-first-ever-russia-asean-navy-exercise-in-indonesian-waters-131758.html">Stage set for first-ever Russia-ASEAN navy exercise in Indonesian waters</a> </strong></p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

MEA condemns Canada’s “baseless references” against Home Minister Amit Shah

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday strongly protested against recent allegations made by…

5 hours ago

“Verification patrolling has commenced… in Demchok and Depsang”: MEA on disengagement between India and China

The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said that verification patrolling has commenced in Demchok…

6 hours ago

“Sanctioned companies not in violation of Indian law,” says MEA after US sanctions 19 Indian companies

The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday reacted to the recent U.S. sanctions imposed on…

7 hours ago

Two terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in J-K’s Anantnag

Two terrorists were killed by security forces during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag…

9 hours ago

“Not an issue of security lapses, security forces giving befitting reply”: Rajnath Singh on J-K terror attacks

Terming the recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir as "unfortunate", Union Defence Minister Rajnath…

10 hours ago

Nasirabad: BYC holds demonstrations against enforced disappearances by Pakistan’s forces

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) held demonstrations against the ongoing enforced disappearances by the Pakistan…

13 hours ago