Heron Mk II:
To enhance their unmanned capabilities in the wake of Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces have signed up for more satellite-linked Heron Mk II UAVs under emergency procurement.
- It is a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
- It was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
- It offers an endurance of 45 hours and a top speed of 150 knots.
- It can reach altitudes up to 35,000 ft and has an operating range of more than 1,000 km.
- It can carry long-range radars and observation sensors, such as electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR) systems for detection and tracking of targets.
- The Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) and Communications Intelligence (COMINT) systems will be installed on board to detect, analyse, geolocate, and gather electronic and communication radio signals for actionable intelligence at long-range stand-off distances.
- It is able to gather intelligence from tens of kilometers away without crossing borders.
