Defence

India is close to sealing a $300 million deal with Israel for an extensive package of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)-produced unmanned air vehicles.

Industry sources say India will purchase an undisclosed number of Heron medium-altitude, long-endurance UAVs with sensors including a synthetic-aperture radar as well as Searcher II long-endurance systems and Harpy anti-radar attack drones.

All three designs are now in service along India's border with Pakistan under a previous arrangement. Additional, short-range unmanned air vehicles may also be included in the latest deal.

IAI has already supplied the Indian armed forces with at least six Heron systems and 10 Searcher II systems under contracts worth $300 million.

The Indian ministry of defence is pursuing the proposed deal under a strategic decision to increase the use of UAVs in many areas of the armed forces.