India Accelerates Procurement of Advanced Heron MK-II Drones with Indigenous Manufacturing Plans Following Operation Sindoor

India has been progressively integrating the advanced Heron MK-II drone systems into its military arsenal in recent years.

Following Operation Sindoor, India has launched procurement procedures for additional Israeli Heron MK-II drones under emergency provisions, according to Israeli defense industry sources.

These sources reveal that negotiations are currently underway to manufacture these sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in India—a strategic move that could ultimately facilitate complete technology transfer and substantially enhance the Make in India initiative within the defense sector.

"All three military branches have decided to acquire the MK-II, and we are particularly proud that the Navy has joined this decision," a source informed ANI.

The Heron MK-II, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is categorized as a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle. It features a maximum take-off weight of 1,430 kg, offers impressive 45-hour endurance capability, can reach a service ceiling of 35,000 feet, and achieves a maximum speed of 150 knots.

While the sources did not disclose the specific quantity of drones the Navy intends to purchase, they emphasized that current efforts are concentrated on manufacturing the MK-II in India through collaborative partnerships with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Elcom.

India began acquiring Heron MK-II drones in 2021 under emergency authorization following escalating tensions with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The initial order comprised four units—two allocated to the Army and two to the Air Force—after confirming that the variant was indeed the Heron MK-II rather than the Heron TP.

"We fully recognize the importance of the Make in India initiative and are collaborating closely with our local partners to fulfill these requirements," stated an IAI official. "We have established partnerships with HAL and Elcom. Our objective is to manufacture these systems within India, creating an Indian version of the Heron—encompassing not just the MK-II but additional systems as well."

IAI is also working diligently to meet the Indigenous Content (IC) standards mandated for forthcoming major tenders in the MALE UAV category, which stipulate 60 percent local production and manufacturing. "We are targeting this benchmark for any future projects," the official added.

Heron drones are primarily deployed for extensive surveillance operations along both Chinese and Pakistani borders, where they have demonstrated considerable effectiveness. Concurrently, the Indian Air Force and Ministry of Defence have been advancing Project Cheetah to enhance the surveillance and combat capabilities of the existing Heron fleet.

In recent years, India has been incorporating the more sophisticated Heron MK-II systems, equipped with satellite communication (SATCOM) technology that enables extended operational range and prolonged mission durations.