India all set to get Missile Armed Drones from Israel

[WolfPack86]

India's first missile armed drones that will give it the capability to carry out stand off cross-border strikes are ready in Israel, ahead of the first ever visit to the nation by an Indian prime minister.

The Heron TP-armed drones, capable of detecting, tracking and taking down targets with air to ground missiles, have been on the armed forces wish list for years, before the programme was fast tracked in September 2015, as reported by ET.

Prime Minister Narender Modi is heading for a historic visit to Israel in July and is expected to discuss and take forward the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.

One of India's top weapons suppliers, Israel has been most enthusiastic on the 'Make in India' initiative and is keen to shift its production lines in partnership with the Indian private sector.

Sources have told ET that 10 Heron TP-armed drones, which were under the procurement process since 2015, are now ready for delivery. The drones could be brought into service by India at the earliest but the final milestone payment is still pending.

Israel had displayed the Heron TP drone at the AeroIndia show in Bengaluru in February. As reported by ET on September 11, 2015, the defence ministry had quietly approved the purchase of 10 missile-armed drones from Israel for $400 million under directions from the highest levels of government.

The armed forces had proposed buying the same armed drones in 2012. But that proposal did not get political backing in UPA-2.

Similar to the Predator unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Heron TPs are capable of reconnaissance, combat and support roles, carrying a payload of air -to-ground missiles to take down targets deep in enemy territory.

The Indian Air Force also has a fleet of Harpy UAVs from Israel but these are not equipped with missiles—they are self-destructing systems primarily tasked with taking out enemy radar positions. India also operates a fleet of unarmed Heron and Searcher UAVs for surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Armed drones will give India the option of taking out large terrorist camps or individual targets in hostile territory with minimal risk. India is also pursuing an indigenous drone programme—Rustom 2—that is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

http://www.defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=251334

 

[mayfair]

10 drones for $400 million that is $40 million per drone. Seems a little expensive, unless it comes with missiles, spares and support.

Also, why restrict the order to 10?

 

[AmoghaVarsha]

Now this is what i call good news

 

[rkhanna]

The Harop/Harpy are nothing like the predator. These are anti-rad loitering munitions. The drone itself is the warhead.

Theharop is nothing but a harpy 2 (we already have the harpy in service)

The reporter is in idiot.

 

[Doc Mozart]

Is the order going to be limited at 10 pops? Hope there is some follow on order too. $40 million per drone is bit too pricey.

 

[WolfPack86]

PM's Israel Trip May See UAV deal

Negotiations for the Heron TP models have been under way for several years
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to get a display of the Heron TP armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) during his visit to Israel later this summer.
These would be India’s first armed drones, significantly expanding the aerial offensive capabilities of the military.
Sources said the armed UAVs for the Indian Air Force (IAF) are already being manufactured in Israel and did not rule out the possibility of them being handed over to the IAF in the near future.
Talks Under Wraps
The deal is expected to cost around $400 million for 10 drones. The discussion for the Heron TP drones has been going on for several years but the exact status of the deal is unclear as the progress is strictly under wraps.
India currently operates a large number of Israeli-built Heron and Searcher UAVs, which were inducted since the late 1990s, and the three services have been quite pleased with their performance.
With the indigenous efforts to build UAVs delayed, India has expanded its arsenal of Israeli drones. India also procured a small number of Harpy loitering drones in the past which can destroy targets by direct hits. However the Heron TP would be the first true armed UAV in the arsenal.
UAVs have become routine tools for surveillance and the armed variants would give decision makers a new and safe option in planning short and swift strikes on terrorist camps.
The manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) stated on its website that Heron TP is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone which can fly upto an altitude of 45,000 feet, has an endurance of over 30 hours and can carry a mission payload of 1,000 kgs.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/04/pms-israel-trip-may-see-uav-deal.html

 

[AmoghaVarsha]

What missiles will they carry?

 

[rkhanna]

What missiles will they carry?

They don't carry misses. the drone itself has a warhead and crashes into a target. It is a sead drone (anti radiation) it will loiter over a battle field and destroy radar sites as they are detected

 

[AmoghaVarsha]

They don't carry misses. the drone itself has a warhead and crashes into a target. It is a sead drone (anti radiation) it will loiter over a battle field and destroy radar sites as they are detected

No.The Heron TP can carry Air to ground missiles.Its also known as IAI Eitan.

 

[Bornubus]

Heron TP armed with Nimrod missile.

_____________________________

 

[anspiron]

IAI Harpy is the one that carry explosives

 

[AmoghaVarsha]

Heron TP armed with Nimrod missile.

_____________________________

Can they carry the LAHAT?

Though NIMROD 2 has far longer range.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Harpy is a loitering suicide drone. Nirbhay was suppose to be loitering cruise missile


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AmoghaVarsha]

Harpy is a loitering suicide drone. Nirbhay was suppose to be loitering cruise missile


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

But we are talking Heron TP/EITAN here.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Heron and harpy were both developed to take out Iranian s-300


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[smestarz]

As per the new policy as seen in the Rafale deal it might be G2G deal with weapons, training and support for a period of time Also it might come with some ToT in some other field. Also the availability rate would be important aspect too. Ab Terrorist based in Pakistan ki lag gayi.. Next we might see terror groups armed with Stingers to counter these drones.

10 drones for $400 million that is $40 million per drone. Seems a little expensive, unless it comes with missiles, spares and support.

Also, why restrict the order to 10?

 

[Bornubus]

Can they carry the LAHAT?

Though NIMROD 2 has far longer range.

Lahat and Nimrod can be fire from UCAV but Lahat is more like an Anti Tank Missile while Nimrod is multi mission use to take out Bunkers or HVT

 

[WolfPack86]

Detect, Track, Destroy Pakis : India To Receive Armed Heron Drones From Israel This Summer

 

[WolfPack86]

Next on the table : Strike-Capable UAV Drones to India with love from Israel
Israel has offered to sell India its armed unmanned aerial vehicles Eitan or Heron TP in order to enhance its stand-off strike as well as long-range strategic strike capability. The offer is still on the table, with South Block interested in bringing the unmanned weapon through “Make in India” route.

With the security establishment convinced that long range stand-off weapons would take precedence over direct engagement in future conflicts, New Delhi has been interested in acquiring armed medium-high altitude, long-endurance UAVs with payload capability in the form of laser-guided bombs or air-to-ground missiles. In this context, Indian military has been looking towards the US and Israel for acquiring Predators or Heron TPs.

While the US is expected to allow sale of General Atomics-developed Guardian UAV as a first step towards either the Predator or Reaper Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV) to India, Tel Aviv has already made a formal offer for the Heron TP to the defence ministry. Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, the Heron TP can fly at a height of 35,000 feet, has a flight endurance of up to 52 hours and carries a weapon payload. India has Heron UAVs in service with the air force already, where they are being used for surveillance as well as in the target acquisition and reconnaissance role.

South Block sources said while New Delhi is interested in the Heron TP, it wants the vehicle to be manufactured in the country through a joint venture with IAI under “Make in India” with total transfer of technology. “The decision on acquisition will be taken before the PM visits Tel Aviv in July on his return from the G-20 meeting in Hamburg,” said an official.
http://defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=251738

 

[rkhanna]

We are stil going around in circles.

I cant find a single Source (other than Indian news articles) that says that the Heron TP is an Armed Drone

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/heron-tp-eitan-male-uav/

http://www.iai.co.il/2013/18900-48196-en/BusinessAreas_UnmannedAirSystems_HeronFamily.aspx
Payload Capacity of 450Kg - 1 Lahat missle is about 12.5kg in weight / Spike is 14 Kg . but still no Confirmation that they have been tested for Weapons Delivery.

http://militaryedge.org/armaments/heron-tp-eitan/

This link (just a Mil Blog) says rumoured (Spike Payload). All Israeli news sources simply quote/credit Indian Press. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/India-to-receive-armed-Heron-drones-from-Israel-486016 Which btw says this

"The Heron TPs are Israel Aerospace Industries’s most advanced UAVs with a 40-hour endurance, maximum takeoff weight of 5,300 kg. and a payload of 1,000 kg., according to the Times. They can be used for both reconnaissance as well as combat and support roles, and can carry air-to-ground missiles to take out hostile targets"

1000KG Payload!!!!!! Even the Super Heron doesnt have such a high payload. Even the modified Turkish Heron doesnt have this much of a payload.


IMO there is too much of DDM going about. Let the planes actually get photographed as such before we start talking about it. IMO other than that this is all Santa Claus Talk