India Army Indian Army

[crixus]

Heron TP is as long as a Rafale and has twice its wingspan. It is the latest generation of Heron MALE UAV systems that Army and IAF already operate.​

SNEHESH ALEX PHILIP 26 May, 2021 7:57 pm IST


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The Heron TP drone is manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries | Photo: iai.co.il
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New Delhi: The Indian Army will soon get four Heron TP drones on lease from Israel, which will be deployed along the Line of Actual Control with China for long surveillance missions, ThePrint has learnt.
The Heron TP, which is as long as a Rafale (14 metres) and has double the wingspan of the French fighter, has been developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for all weather strategic missions. While the Heron TP drones are capable of being armed if needed, sources said the ones being leased by India are non-weaponised versions.


“The first two drones will be delivered soon. The other two will be delivered after a gap of three months,” a source told ThePrint, adding that the contract for the lease was signed earlier this year. The lease is for a period of three years with an option of another two years, but costs are not being divulged.

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Also read: Navy, Army and IAF finally agree to procure armed drones from US in $3 bn deal

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Army’s first lease of equipment​

This is the Indian Army’s first time leasing military equipment, after a clause was introduced in the latest version of the Defence Acquisition Procedure. The Navy has already leased two non-weaponised General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B Sea Guardian MALE UAVs from the US under this policy, but sources in the defence establishment said that the Israeli Heron TP performs bette

The Army and the Indian Air Force use a mix of previous generation Heron and Searcher 2 drones. Sources said that the Heron TP is much more capable than its predecessor.

“The Heron TP is huge. It looks like an AN-32 aircraft in size because of its large wingspan. It has a maximum take-off weight of 5,670 kg, with a maximum payload weight of 2,700 kg. The earlier generation has less than half this capacity,” a source said, adding that with an endurance of 30 hours, the drone has a range of over 1,000 kilometres.

It is equipped with automatic taxi-takeoff and landing (ATOL), satellite communication for extended range, and fully redundant avionics, among other highlights.


Meanwhile, the armed forces are in talks with Israel to upgrade the 90 previous generation Herons in service, and also to weaponise them. Of the 90, about 75 are operated by the IAF.

@Nilgiri @500 @Jackdaws @FalconSlayersDFI

 

[Zapper]

I have never heard of any country leasing weapons systems

 

[Nilgiri]

I have never heard of any country leasing weapons systems

Greece and Israel deal spotlight leasing model for military UAVs

The lease option could offer an attractive alternative to pricey acquisitions amid budgetary constraints caused by COVID 19.

www.defensenews.com

Guns for hire? No, but there are warships for rent

The MoD is increasingly outsourcing to the private sector. It's leasing aircraft and ships today; will it be tanks and armies tomorrow? By Tim Webb

www.theguardian.com

US Army Europe and UK MoD sign equipment leasing agreement

The US Army Europe has signed a cross-service agreement with the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) for a long-term lease of equipment.

www.army-technology.com

 

[crixus]

Is anyone aware of the difference between Heron and Heron TP other than the capability of carrying weapons?

 

[Nilgiri]

Is anyone aware of the difference between Heron and Heron TP other than the capability of carrying weapons?

Heron TP is basically IAI Eitan. It is significantly bigger platform than the older Herons. So carrying capacity, endurance and the envelopes + buffers concerning those and I suppose the general array of sensors/weaponry it can bring to bear are more up to date compared to legacy heron (which India is looking to upgrade now with Israeli cooperation).

 

[TR_123456]

I have never heard of any country leasing weapons systems

You're not the first,many countries do it.

Why does Germany want armed drones? – DW – 05/31/2018

The German military is determined to add the Israeli Heron TP to its drone fleet – the first time the Bundeswehr will have drones that can be weaponized. But what does it need them for?

www.dw.com

 

[Zapper]

Greece and Israel deal spotlight leasing model for military UAVs

The lease option could offer an attractive alternative to pricey acquisitions amid budgetary constraints caused by COVID 19.

www.defensenews.com

Guns for hire? No, but there are warships for rent

The MoD is increasingly outsourcing to the private sector. It's leasing aircraft and ships today; will it be tanks and armies tomorrow? By Tim Webb

www.theguardian.com

US Army Europe and UK MoD sign equipment leasing agreement

The US Army Europe has signed a cross-service agreement with the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) for a long-term lease of equipment.

www.army-technology.com

You're not the first,many countries do it.

Why does Germany want armed drones? – DW – 05/31/2018

The German military is determined to add the Israeli Heron TP to its drone fleet – the first time the Bundeswehr will have drones that can be weaponized. But what does it need them for?

www.dw.com

But these aren't a common sight and how economically are these feasible!! We'd have to shell out a ton to lease the Russian nuclear sub but it makes sense since it's a critical tech. If we're paying the same dime for stuff like drones which can clearly be made by private firms...we're just throwing valuable forex

Also, its very unlikely to fetch favorable lease terms since you don't get em even on cars...let alone weapons systems

 

[TR_123456]

But these aren't a common sight and how economically are these feasible!! We'd have to shell out a ton to lease the Russian nuclear sub but it makes sense since it's a critical tech. If we're paying the same dime for stuff like drones which can clearly be made by private firms...we're just throwing valuable forex

Also, its very unlikely to fetch favorable lease terms since you don't get em even on cars...let alone weapons systems

Well,either your private firms are not there yet(India) or you dont have a UAV industry(Germany,Greece).
Its a stopgap solution in your case.
Germany doesnt really need any UAV's to be honest(NATO covers that with US drones).
There is a Europeon UAV programm which Germany joined,Greece can join as well in the future.
Countries like Turkey and Iran have no access to US drones,thats why they were ''forced'' to develop a UAV industry.
Btw,my country bought 10 Heron UAV's from Israel in 2005.
Check it out,

Turkey accuses Israel of selling them defective drones

Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli has accused Israel of selling Ankara defective drones in a 2005 deal which affecting the country’s campaign against Kurdish militias in Iraq. Canikli made the...

www.middleeastmonitor.com

Israel fixes, returns four aerial drones to Turkey in possible sign of warming ties

Failure to repair the Herons has been a bone of contention with Ankara for years

www.timesofisrael.com

 

[crixus]

But these aren't a common sight and how economically are these feasible!! We'd have to shell out a ton to lease the Russian nuclear sub but it makes sense since it's a critical tech. If we're paying the same dime for stuff like drones which can clearly be made by private firms...we're just throwing valuable forex

Also, its very unlikely to fetch favorable lease terms since you don't get em even on cars...let alone weapons systems

It's a stop-gap arrangement and drones are leased under the special financial powers to the vice chiefs. The most feasible and affordable solution will be the up-gradation of the existing Heron fleet.

The situation with China is not normal so such drastic steps are expected.

 

[crixus]

Well,either your private firms are not there yet(India) or you dont have a UAV industry(Germany,Greece).
Its a stopgap solution in your case.
Germany doesnt really need any UAV's to be honest(NATO covers that with US drones).
There is a Europeon UAV programm which Germany joined,Greece can join as well in the future.
Countries like Turkey and Iran have no access to US drones,thats why they were ''forced'' to develop a UAV industry.
Btw,my country bought 10 Heron UAV's from Israel in 2005.
Check it out,

Turkey accuses Israel of selling them defective drones

Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli has accused Israel of selling Ankara defective drones in a 2005 deal which affecting the country’s campaign against Kurdish militias in Iraq. Canikli made the...

www.middleeastmonitor.com

Israel fixes, returns four aerial drones to Turkey in possible sign of warming ties

Failure to repair the Herons has been a bone of contention with Ankara for years

www.timesofisrael.com

Indian private sector was literally kept out of the defence sector for obvious reasons as these defence deals were the ATMs for political parties.
Now as China is the number one enemy the perception is changing and slowly Indian companies are getting the contracts

We have drone manufacturers but they still not reached the stage where they can manufacture the HALE and MALE drone.

Indian Army signs a $20 million contract with ideaForge to procure SWITCH UAV

/PRNewswire/ -- The Indian Army has signed an approximately $20 million contract for undisclosed quantities of a high-altitude variant of ideaForge's SWITCH...

www.prnewswire.com

the deal is for the below drone :

 

[TR_123456]

Indian private sector was literally kept out of the defence sector for obvious reasons as these defence deals were the ATMs for political parties.
Now as China is the number one enemy the perception is changing and slowly Indian companies are getting the contracts

We have drone manufacturers but they still not reached the stage where they can manufacture the HALE and MALE drone.

Indian Army signs a $20 million contract with ideaForge to procure SWITCH UAV

/PRNewswire/ -- The Indian Army has signed an approximately $20 million contract for undisclosed quantities of a high-altitude variant of ideaForge's SWITCH...

www.prnewswire.com

the deal is for the below drone :
View attachment 21985

Wasnt there a MALE drone in development?
I believe it was posted already.

 

[crixus]

Wasnt there a MALE drone in development?
I believe it was posted already.

Its a govt agency, which is developing it not by any private company

It is Rustom 2 but still developing the last testing was for 8 hours and 16000+ feet height, last credible news about it :

Maybe due to this second wave of Chinese virus in India such testing get delayed

India’s Rustom-2 UAV gets massive upgrade, will soar to 27,000 feet in April​

India’s Rustom-2 UAV gets massive upgrade, will soar to 27,000 feet in April

DRDO's hard push to Rustom-2 is seen in the context of the continuing efforts to indigenously produce cutting-edge military equipment.

www.hindustantimes.com

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1400762507988373506

 

[Zapper]

 

[Zapper]

1. Belarus
2. Russia
2. Uzbekistan
3. China
4. India
5. Iran
6. Morocco
7. Venezuela
8. Pakistan

Scroll down to Polar Star exercises and click on "learn more" for the results to display

https://armygames2021.mil.ru/results_2021/#popup:zvezda

 

[Jackdaws]

India should compare itself to the one finishing #1 not the one at the bottom of the pile.

 

[Knowledgeseeker]

View attachment 30347

1. Belarus
2. Russia
2. Uzbekistan
3. China
4. India
5. Iran
6. Morocco
7. Venezuela
8. Pakistan

https://armygames2021.mil.ru/polar_star_ru/

Do they have a website in english?

 

[Zapper]

Do they have a website in english?

You can use the translate option or click a screenshot and search it with "google lens" to translate. I also posted a english translated picture of the same

 

[Zapper]

India should compare itself to the one finishing #1 not the one at the bottom of the pile.

Belarus has home advantage while if you see the other competitions in the link, most of the top-3 spots are taken by Belarus, Russia and Uzbekistan. I doubt Belarus and Uzbek can beat Russia or even China which usually sends specially trained soldiers for such competitions. Seeing the results, it is evident that the participating soviet countries are already aware of the events and rehearsed well in prior

 

[Zapper]

Was it sniper ?

Nah...there was a different competition for Snipers called Sniper frontier. Polar Star involves multiple tasks specifically for SF units

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1434133145213829121

https://armygames2021.mil.ru/sniper_frontier_ru/