Contract for Heron strategic UAVs and supporting hardware worth $200 million

The Indian Army has signed a contract with the Malat subsidiary of Israeli Aircraft Industries worth $200 million, for the purchase of Heron UAV's and supporting equipment for deployment, optics, radar and communications. The aircraft has a range of some 600 miles and can carry over 500 lbs of payload.

With its 16 meter wingspan, the Heron can remain airborne for up to 52 hours at an altitude of 30,000 feet, according to IAI specifications. The Heron is a long range system designed to obtain strategic intelligence information in real time. The UAV is a fourth generation platform, with the ability to takeoff and land without human intervention and provide deep penetration in an extended geographical area.

The Heron will be used in the Jammu and Punjab districts, according to the Financial Express. It will undergo a period of testing lasting ten days during which time it will acquire tactical information on the terrain, nighttime troop movements and terrorist infiltration routes.

The tests will be performed by the Indian Army's Aviation Corps during reconnaisance missions on the international border with Pakistan and the Kashmir region. The UAV is known as a strategic UAV, but it can also carry a wide range of munitions. The agreement will increase the total sales of IAI to India during the past decade to $750 million dollars, reaffirming India's status as one of Israel's largest military customers.

FMI: http://www.iai.co.il/site/en/iai.asp?pi=18900