Indian Armed Forces Fast-Track Heron Mk II UAV Procurement Under Emergency Route

In a major boost to India’s unmanned combat capabilities, the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy have placed fresh orders for the Israeli-origin Heron Mk II medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs under emergency procurement powers, multiple defence sources confirmed from Tel Aviv on 2 December 2025.

This rapid induction comes months after the successful use of drones during Operation Sindoor (May 2025), underlining the transformative role of UAVs in modern high-intensity conflict.

Why the Heron Mk II is Being Prioritised Again

The Heron Mk II, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is a significant upgrade over the legacy Heron Mk I already in Indian service. Key advantages that make it the platform of choice:

• Endurance: Up to 45 hours (real-world configurations routinely exceed 36 hours)
• Payload: Nearly 500 kg (four hardpoints; can carry Spike ATGMs, EO/IR turrets, SAR pods, maritime search radar)
• SATCOM-enabled: True beyond-line-of-sight operations from any base in India or ship at sea
• All-weather capability: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) + ELINT/COMINT suites
• Fully automatic take-off and landing (ATOL)
• Proven in combat: Extensively used by Indian Army along the LAC and reportedly during Operation Sindoor

Tri-Service Induction – A First for the Indian Navy

• Indian Army & IAF: Placing top-up orders to expand existing Heron Mk II fleets deployed in Ladakh, Northeast, and western sector.
• Indian Navy: First-time induction of the type; will replace ageing Searcher Mk II fleets and significantly enhance maritime surveillance over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

The emergency procurement route (up to ₹300 crore per case) allows the forces to bypass lengthy tender processes and take delivery within months.

Drones Now Drive 70% of Battlefield Tasks

Israeli officials told reporters that in recent conflicts (including Ukraine and Operation Sindoor), nearly 70% of frontline missions – reconnaissance, target acquisition, strike coordination, and suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) – were executed by UAVs. The Heron Mk II’s ability to loiter for nearly two days while carrying stand-off munitions makes it a “force multiplier” in contested environments.

Make in India & Future Roadmap

Even as emergency buys bridge the gap, Israeli manufacturers are deepening partnerships with Indian companies:

• Joint maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities already operational
• Transfer of critical technologies for local integration
• IAI preparing bid for the Indian MoD’s September 2025 RFP for 87 indigenous MALE UAVs under the “Make-I” category (expected partners: Adani Defence, Dynamatic Technologies, Alpha Design)

These emergency Heron Mk II orders will keep Indian forces ahead of the curve while the DRDO TAPAS, private-sector Archer-NG, and other indigenous programmes mature over the next 5–7 years.

Technical Specifications – Heron Mk II at a Glance

Conclusion

The repeat and first-time orders for the Heron Mk II UAV by all three Indian services in December 2025 signal a clear shift: India is building a large, SATCOM-linked, multi-role drone force capable of 24×7 surveillance and precision strikes across land and maritime domains.

With emergency procurements delivering immediate capability and long-term “Make in India” partnerships already in motion, the Heron Mk II will remain the backbone of Indian UAV operations well into the 2030s.

Sharing is caring!