Mon, Nov 15, 2004
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.
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