Army to deploy two Heron-Mk2 UAVs in Eastern sector by month end

Of the four UAVs on lease, two have been deployed in Ladakh

As part of capability enhancement in Arunachal Pradesh beyond the Tawang sector, the Indian Army is set to deploy two Heron-Mk2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), procured on lease, along the Line of Actual Control (LCA) in the Eastern sector by end of September, defence sources said.

“Four SATCOM [satellite communications] enabled UAVs were contracted last year by the Army. Out of these two have been deployed at Leh and two will be inducted in Eastern Command by September end,” an Army source said. “This will increase the operational reach manifold.”

These four UAVs are on lease from Israel Aircraft Industries and are more capable than the ones in service.

As reported by The Hindu yesterday, the Army is looking to create a separate cadre of UAV operators. The proposal is currently with the Army Headquarters and once cleared, will be sent to the Defence Ministry for approval.

Since the stand-off in Eastern Ladakh, the Army Aviation had seen a quantum jump in the employment of helicopters and UAVs along the Northern and Eastern borders.

The UAVs are carrying out 24-hour surveillance and can look beyond 300 km, a Lieutenant Colonel with an Army Aviation Unit near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border said. “They are used to identify personnel, vehicles and even transmissions beyond the border. They can find the electro-magnetic transmissions by enemy like frequency etc.,” the officer explained.

In addition, UAVs are also being used in internal security duties to identify hideouts of insurgents and even number of insurgents, another officer said on their employment in counter insurgency role. The video feed is sent live during operations to assist forces on the ground, the officer added.