India turns to Israel for armed drones as Pakistan, China build fleets

[Zarvan]

An Israeli drone flies over the West Bank city of Hebron. (Reuters File Photo)

NEW DELHI: India has accelerated plans to buy drones from Israel that can be armed, defence sources said, allowing the military to carry out strikes overseas with less risk to personnel.

The news comes weeks after long-time rival Pakistan first reported using a home-made drone in combat when it attacked militants on its soil, raising the prospect of a new front in the nuclear-armed neighbours' standoff over Kashmir that has twice spilled into war.

The plan to acquire Israeli Herons was first conceived three years ago, but in January the military wrote to the government asking for speedy delivery, the sources said, as Pakistan and China develop their own drone warfare capabilities.

India has already deployed Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along the rugged mountains of J&K for surveillance, as well as on the disputed border with China where the two armies have faced off against each other.

In September, the Indian government approved the air force's request to acquire 10 Heron TP drones from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) that can be fitted with weapons to engage targets on the ground, an air force official with knowledge of the matter said.

He added that he expected the agreement to be inked soon. The defence ministry declined to comment.

The plan to buy Herons in a deal estimated at $400 million would open the option of covert cross-border strikes.

Deep-strike capability

Gurmeet Kanwal, a former head of the government-funded Centre for Land Warfare Studies in New Delhi, said the armed Herons due to enter Indian service by late 2016 will give the air force deep-strike capability.

The United States has carried out hundreds of drone strikes inside Pakistan, targeting al-Qaida and other militants in its northwest. Pakistan has allowed such targeted killings, even though it complains about them in public.

Indian drones, in contrast, face being shot down as soon as they show up on Pakistani radars, the army officer and Kanwal said.

Deniability would be essential in any use of armed drones by India and Pakistan across their bitterly contested border, said Pervez Hoodbhoy, a leading weapons proliferation expert in Pakistan.

"It is likely that drones would be used in a surreptitious mode close to the LoC, far away from populated areas," he said.

In July, the Pakistan army said it had shot down a small Indian spy drone in J&K. India did not comment.

Michael Kugelman, South Asia specialist at the Washington DC-based Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, said the arrival of lethal drones in the region could heighten mutual suspicion at a time when ties are strained.

"Pakistan might worry that India could use an armed drone to attack terrorist safe havens in Pakistan or to target a specific terrorist there."

"India might worry that Pakistan will now be tempted to add drones to its repertoire of asymmetric warfare tactics it has used against India."

Only the United States, Israel and Britain are known to have used armed drones in combat, although more than 70 countries have UAVs with surveillance capabilities, according to New America, a Washington DC-based think-tank.

China has no public strategy for armed drone development, but it has poured resources into UAVs and has shown them off at exhibitions. Chinese combat drones still lag far behind the Israeli-made ones in terms of capability, military experts say.

Local Manufacture?

A delegation from state-owned IAI has been holding talks with the defence ministry to determine the possibility of local manufacture of the Heron TP as part of the "Make-in-India" programme, IHS Jane's said.

Israel does not confirm or deny using or producing armed drones. IAI declined comment on the proposed sale of the Herons, as did Israel's defence ministry, which oversees such arms exports.

IAI is one of several Israeli companies manufacturing drones or related technologies.

At least one of them has sold armed drones to a foreign country other than India, a person involved in the deal said, without elaborating on the client, model or manufacturer of the aircraft.

Such deals are handled directly between the governments of Israel and the purchasing country, with mutual secrecy agreements, the person added.

It is not clear what kind of weapons will be fitted to the Heron TPs that India plans to buy.

India has been trying to develop its own combat drone, but the defence research organization has struggled to integrate a missile onto the proposed Rustom series of UAVs.

David Harari, a retired IAI engineer and Israel Prize winner for his pioneering work in drone development, said India could mount its own weaponry on an Israeli supplied drone, helped by close technological cooperation between the two countries.


Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.

India turns to Israel for armed drones as Pakistan, China build fleets - The Times of India

 

[Maarkhoor]

An Israeli drone flies over the West Bank city of Hebron. (Reuters File Photo)
NEW DELHI: India has accelerated plans to buy drones from Israel that can be armed, defence sources said, allowing the military to carry out strikes overseas with less risk to personnel.

The news comes weeks after long-time rival Pakistan first reported using a home-made drone in combat when it attacked militants on its soil, raising the prospect of a new front in the nuclear-armed neighbours' standoff over Kashmir that has twice spilled into war.

The plan to acquire Israeli Herons was first conceived three years ago, but in January the military wrote to the government asking for speedy delivery, the sources said, as Pakistan and China develop their own drone warfare capabilities.

India has already deployed Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along the rugged mountains of J&K for surveillance, as well as on the disputed border with China where the two armies have faced off against each other.

In September, the Indian government approved the air force's request to acquire 10 Heron TP drones from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) that can be fitted with weapons to engage targets on the ground, an air force official with knowledge of the matter said.

He added that he expected the agreement to be inked soon. The defence ministry declined to comment.

The plan to buy Herons in a deal estimated at $400 million would open the option of covert cross-border strikes.

Deep-strike capability

Gurmeet Kanwal, a former head of the government-funded Centre for Land Warfare Studies in New Delhi, said the armed Herons due to enter Indian service by late 2016 will give the air force deep-strike capability.

The United States has carried out hundreds of drone strikes inside Pakistan, targeting al-Qaida and other militants in its northwest. Pakistan has allowed such targeted killings, even though it complains about them in public.

Indian drones, in contrast, face being shot down as soon as they show up on Pakistani radars, the army officer and Kanwal said.

Deniability would be essential in any use of armed drones by India and Pakistan across their bitterly contested border, said Pervez Hoodbhoy, a leading weapons proliferation expert in Pakistan.

"It is likely that drones would be used in a surreptitious mode close to the LoC, far away from populated areas," he said.

In July, the Pakistan army said it had shot down a small Indian spy drone in J&K. India did not comment.

Michael Kugelman, South Asia specialist at the Washington DC-based Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, said the arrival of lethal drones in the region could heighten mutual suspicion at a time when ties are strained.

"Pakistan might worry that India could use an armed drone to attack terrorist safe havens in Pakistan or to target a specific terrorist there."

"India might worry that Pakistan will now be tempted to add drones to its repertoire of asymmetric warfare tactics it has used against India."

Only the United States, Israel and Britain are known to have used armed drones in combat, although more than 70 countries have UAVs with surveillance capabilities, according to New America, a Washington DC-based think-tank.

China has no public strategy for armed drone development, but it has poured resources into UAVs and has shown them off at exhibitions. Chinese combat drones still lag far behind the Israeli-made ones in terms of capability, military experts say.

Local Manufacture?

A delegation from state-owned IAI has been holding talks with the defence ministry to determine the possibility of local manufacture of the Heron TP as part of the "Make-in-India" programme, IHS Jane's said.

Israel does not confirm or deny using or producing armed drones. IAI declined comment on the proposed sale of the Herons, as did Israel's defence ministry, which oversees such arms exports.

IAI is one of several Israeli companies manufacturing drones or related technologies.

At least one of them has sold armed drones to a foreign country other than India, a person involved in the deal said, without elaborating on the client, model or manufacturer of the aircraft.

Such deals are handled directly between the governments of Israel and the purchasing country, with mutual secrecy agreements, the person added.

It is not clear what kind of weapons will be fitted to the Heron TPs that India plans to buy.

India has been trying to develop its own combat drone, but the defence research organization has struggled to integrate a missile onto the proposed Rustom series of UAVs.

David Harari, a retired IAI engineer and Israel Prize winner for his pioneering work in drone development, said India could mount its own weaponry on an Israeli supplied drone, helped by close technological cooperation between the two countries.


Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.

India turns to Israel for armed drones as Pakistan, China build fleets - The Times of India

India failed to build Rustom I & II after successful strike of Buraq they are in panic to get armed drone.

 

[MBilal106]

India Turns To Israel For Armed Drones As Pakistan, China Build Fleets

India has accelerated plans to buy drones from Israel that can be armed and can allow the military to carry out strikes overseas with less risk to personnel, defence sources have said.

The news comes weeks after Pakistan reported using a home-made drone in combat when it attacked militants on its soil, raising the prospect of a new front in the nuclear-armed neighbours' standoff over Kashmir that has twice spilled into war.


The plan to acquire Israeli Herons was first conceived three years ago, but in January the military wrote to the government asking for speedy delivery, the sources said, as Pakistan and China develop their own drone warfare capabilities.

India has already deployed Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along the rugged mountains of Kashmir for surveillance, as well as on the disputed border with China, where the two armies have faced off against each other.

Earlier this month, the government approved the Air Force's request to acquire 10 Heron TP drones at an estimated Rs. 2,620 crore from the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI); these drones can be fitted with weapons to engage targets on the ground, an air force official with knowledge of the matter said.

He said he expected the agreement to be inked soon. The Indian Defence Ministry declined to comment.

"It's risky, but armed UAVs can be used for counter insurgency operations internally as well across the borders; sneak attacks on terrorist hideouts in mountainous terrain, perhaps," said an army officer in the defence planning staff.

Gurmeet Kanwal, a former head of the government-funded Centre for Land Warfare Studies in New Delhi, said the armed Herons due to enter Indian service by late 2016 will give the Air Force deep-strike capability.

The United States has carried out hundreds of drone strikes inside Pakistan, targeting al Qaeda and other militants in its northwest. Pakistan has allowed such targeted killings, even though it complains about them in public.

Indian drones, in contrast, face being shot down if they show up on Pakistani radars, the army officer and Kanwal said.

Michael Kugelman, South Asia specialist at the Washington D.C.-based Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, said the arrival of lethal drones in the region could heighten mutual suspicion at a time when ties are strained.

"Pakistan might worry that India could use an armed drone to attack terrorist safe havens in Pakistan or to target a specific terrorist there...India might worry that Pakistan will now be tempted to add drones to its repertoire of asymmetric warfare tactics it has used against India," he said.

Only the United States, Israel and Britain are known to have used armed drones in combat, although more than 70 countries have UAVs with surveillance capabilities, according to New America, a Washington DC-based think-tank.

China has no public strategy for armed drone development, but it has poured resources into UAVs and has shown them off at exhibitions. Chinese combat drones still lag far behind the Israeli-made ones in terms of capability, military experts say.

Israel does not confirm or deny using or producing armed drones. The state-owned IAI declined comment on the proposed sale of the Herons, as did Israel's Defence Ministry, which oversees such arms exports.

India has been trying to develop its own combat drone, but the defence research development organisation or DRDO has struggled to integrate a missile onto the proposed Rustom series of UAVs.

Source: NDTV

 

[Maarkhoor]

DRDO failed in Rustom I & II projects and recent Buraq strike on terrorists make India panic.

 

[Archie]

The world's most advanced UCAV, the Reaper can be shot down by a modern fighter

Their utility is only in case of Anti insurgency operations.
And in case the opposition side lacks an air force

 

[Paranoid Android]

DRDO failed in Rustom I & II projects and recent Buraq strike on terrorists make India panic.

Rustom 1 is used mainly for surveillance purposes.We don't have to kill good terrorists on daily basis...Get your facts right.We have enough Israeli drones in inventory that can be armed & Rustom 2 is already on the way..

 

[Maarkhoor]

Rustom 1 is used mainly for surveillance purposes.We don't have to kill good terrorists on daily basis...Get your facts right.We have enough Israeli drones in inventory that can be armed & Rustom 2 is already on the way..

Then why you go to Israel for armed drones ?

 

[C130]

India could look into MQ-9 Reapers armed with Brimestones

but I believe U.S policy is not to sell drones that will be armed.

 

[volatile]

The world's most advanced UCAV, the Reaper can be shot down by a modern fighter

Their utility is only in case of Anti insurgency operations.
And in case the opposition side lacks an air force

With limited signature first find it then destroy it .Burraq bein even smaller then reaper it is even hard for any radar to catch it.

 

[45'22']

India Turns To Israel For Armed Drones As Pakistan, China Build Fleets

India has accelerated plans to buy drones from Israel that can be armed and can allow the military to carry out strikes overseas with less risk to personnel, defence sources have said.

The news comes weeks after Pakistan reported using a home-made drone in combat when it attacked militants on its soil, raising the prospect of a new front in the nuclear-armed neighbours' standoff over Kashmir that has twice spilled into war.


The plan to acquire Israeli Herons was first conceived three years ago, but in January the military wrote to the government asking for speedy delivery, the sources said, as Pakistan and China develop their own drone warfare capabilities.

India has already deployed Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along the rugged mountains of Kashmir for surveillance, as well as on the disputed border with China, where the two armies have faced off against each other.

Earlier this month, the government approved the Air Force's request to acquire 10 Heron TP drones at an estimated Rs. 2,620 crore from the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI); these drones can be fitted with weapons to engage targets on the ground, an air force official with knowledge of the matter said.

He said he expected the agreement to be inked soon. The Indian Defence Ministry declined to comment.

"It's risky, but armed UAVs can be used for counter insurgency operations internally as well across the borders; sneak attacks on terrorist hideouts in mountainous terrain, perhaps," said an army officer in the defence planning staff.

Gurmeet Kanwal, a former head of the government-funded Centre for Land Warfare Studies in New Delhi, said the armed Herons due to enter Indian service by late 2016 will give the Air Force deep-strike capability.

The United States has carried out hundreds of drone strikes inside Pakistan, targeting al Qaeda and other militants in its northwest. Pakistan has allowed such targeted killings, even though it complains about them in public.

Indian drones, in contrast, face being shot down if they show up on Pakistani radars, the army officer and Kanwal said.

Michael Kugelman, South Asia specialist at the Washington D.C.-based Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, said the arrival of lethal drones in the region could heighten mutual suspicion at a time when ties are strained.

"Pakistan might worry that India could use an armed drone to attack terrorist safe havens in Pakistan or to target a specific terrorist there...India might worry that Pakistan will now be tempted to add drones to its repertoire of asymmetric warfare tactics it has used against India," he said.

Only the United States, Israel and Britain are known to have used armed drones in combat, although more than 70 countries have UAVs with surveillance capabilities, according to New America, a Washington DC-based think-tank.

China has no public strategy for armed drone development, but it has poured resources into UAVs and has shown them off at exhibitions. Chinese combat drones still lag far behind the Israeli-made ones in terms of capability, military experts say.

Israel does not confirm or deny using or producing armed drones. The state-owned IAI declined comment on the proposed sale of the Herons, as did Israel's Defence Ministry, which oversees such arms exports.

India has been trying to develop its own combat drone, but the defence research development organisation or DRDO has struggled to integrate a missile onto the proposed Rustom series of UAVs.

Source: NDTV

@Irfan Baloch sahab ...please correct the title to avoid trolling

 

[Styx]

India Turns To Israel For Armed Drones As Pakistan, China Build Fleets

India has accelerated plans to buy drones from Israel that can be armed and can allow the military to carry out strikes overseas with less risk to personnel, defence sources have said.

The news comes weeks after Pakistan reported using a home-made drone in combat when it attacked militants on its soil, raising the prospect of a new front in the nuclear-armed neighbours' standoff over Kashmir that has twice spilled into war.


The plan to acquire Israeli Herons was first conceived three years ago, but in January the military wrote to the government asking for speedy delivery, the sources said, as Pakistan and China develop their own drone warfare capabilities.

India has already deployed Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along the rugged mountains of Kashmir for surveillance, as well as on the disputed border with China, where the two armies have faced off against each other.

Earlier this month, the government approved the Air Force's request to acquire 10 Heron TP drones at an estimated Rs. 2,620 crore from the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI); these drones can be fitted with weapons to engage targets on the ground, an air force official with knowledge of the matter said.

He said he expected the agreement to be inked soon. The Indian Defence Ministry declined to comment.

"It's risky, but armed UAVs can be used for counter insurgency operations internally as well across the borders; sneak attacks on terrorist hideouts in mountainous terrain, perhaps," said an army officer in the defence planning staff.

Gurmeet Kanwal, a former head of the government-funded Centre for Land Warfare Studies in New Delhi, said the armed Herons due to enter Indian service by late 2016 will give the Air Force deep-strike capability.

The United States has carried out hundreds of drone strikes inside Pakistan, targeting al Qaeda and other militants in its northwest. Pakistan has allowed such targeted killings, even though it complains about them in public.

Indian drones, in contrast, face being shot down if they show up on Pakistani radars, the army officer and Kanwal said.

Michael Kugelman, South Asia specialist at the Washington D.C.-based Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, said the arrival of lethal drones in the region could heighten mutual suspicion at a time when ties are strained.

"Pakistan might worry that India could use an armed drone to attack terrorist safe havens in Pakistan or to target a specific terrorist there...India might worry that Pakistan will now be tempted to add drones to its repertoire of asymmetric warfare tactics it has used against India," he said.

Only the United States, Israel and Britain are known to have used armed drones in combat, although more than 70 countries have UAVs with surveillance capabilities, according to New America, a Washington DC-based think-tank.

China has no public strategy for armed drone development, but it has poured resources into UAVs and has shown them off at exhibitions. Chinese combat drones still lag far behind the Israeli-made ones in terms of capability, military experts say.

Israel does not confirm or deny using or producing armed drones. The state-owned IAI declined comment on the proposed sale of the Herons, as did Israel's Defence Ministry, which oversees such arms exports.

India has been trying to develop its own combat drone, but the defence research development organisation or DRDO has struggled to integrate a missile onto the proposed Rustom series of UAVs.

Source: NDTV

"burraq fear?" what's with the doctored title ?

 

[Maarkhoor]

To have more capable than what we have..Why cry so much?We are buying only 10 pieces where you operate Buraq army in large numbers...1buraq=10 heron

i am not crying just laughing.

 

[Sine Nomine]

To have more capable than what we have..Why cry so much?We are buying only 10 pieces where you operate Buraq army in large numbers...1buraq=10 heron

And you must be the head of team which designed Buraq...

Burraq home made UCAV??

I dare any pakistani to show a single video which will show Burraq is going through various test phases..In Pakistan,Things always gets "Trial and Induction" directly..

Because most of our weapon programs are not made public,like Raad ALCM.

 

[Maarkhoor]

Burraq home made UCAV??

I dare any pakistani to show a single video which will show Burraq is going through various test phases..In Pakistan,Things always gets "Trial and Induction" directly..

We don't show until perfect one ready to test fire otherwise humiliation is the result like Tejas, Arjun & Rustom I & II and many. DRDO is realy helping Pakistan wasting large amount of unds good work keep it up DRDO hum tumaray sath hien.

 

[Maarkhoor]

Don't underestimate them.
Watch this

A civilian made helicopter.