Eye on China, India goes for Heron tech upgrade, missile-firing Guardian drones
The drone revolution in the Indian military has come after it was felt that India had no answer to Chinese armed drone and surveillance drones.
Eye on China, India goes for Heron tech upgrade, missile-firing Guardian drones
India has decided in favour of the weaponised MQ-9B Sky Guardian drone from the US and to upgrade its existing Israeli Heron fleet with satellite communication capability in an attempt to enhance its range as well as surveillance capabilities in the midst of the Ladakh military standoff with China. At the same time, the face-off between the Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has spurred the Indian private sector and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to start manufacturing short-range tactical drones as well as anti-drone systems to boost border defences. The three services have come to a conclusion that India should opt for a weaponised drone rather than the 22 reconnaissance and surveillance Sea Guardian drones approved in 2017 by the US administration for supply to India, according to authoritative government officials with knowledge of the matter. The MQ-9B, manufactured by General Atomics, has a 40-hour endurance with a maximum altitude of 40,000 fe…
