Improved Heron Mark 2 drones will monitor China (video)
India has modernized its 2000-model drone, and it is now capable of round-the-clock surveillance and laser illumination of important targets.
The Indian Air Force has deployed the latest Israeli Heron Mark 2 drones from Israel Aerospace Industries, which are capable of monitoring the borders of China and Pakistan in one flight, Aninews reports. So far, the Indian army has received the first four such modernized drones.
But that’s not enough, the military says, because these reconnaissance drones can stay in the air for 36 hours straight, making them useful for multiple surveillance missions in several sectors at once. These highly autonomous drones have the additional capability of laser illumination of enemy targets from a long distance, helping fighters to get rid of such targets.
Drone squadron commander Pankaj Rana told the newspaper that: “The Heron Mark 2 is a very good drone. The drone has an extended service life and has the ability to locate targets beyond line of sight. Thanks to this, the entire border with China and Pakistan can be monitored from one command center.”
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These drones will be deployed at the forward air base in the northern sector. The sources emphasize that the drone is capable of not only reconnaissance but also carrying weapons, and the process of equipping these drones is in full swing.
Also, according to the Indian military, Heron Mark 2 can operate in almost any weather. Low and high temperatures are also not a problem for drones. In general, the modified Heron Mark 2s have received significant updates that will help them be used to greater advantage than they were 20 years ago.
- Technical details of the Heron Mark 2:
- weight – 1430 kg;
- payload – 490 kg;
- flight altitude – 10.5 km;
- battery life – 36 hours;
- maximum speed – 277 km/h;
- Wingspan – 16.6 meters;
- total length – 8.5 m.
The Indian Air Force is also working on the Cheetah project, under which about 70 Heron drones of the Indian armed forces are to be modernized using satellite communication channels. They will also be equipped with missile weapons to destroy enemy targets.
