India turns to Israel for armed drones

NEW DELHI: Plans have accelerated to purchase drones from Israel which can be equipped, defence sources said, enabling the military to undertake strikes abroad with less danger to employees.

The news comes after longtime rival Pakistan reported utilizing a homemade drone in fight when it assaulted militants on its soil, increasing the prospect of a fresh front in the nuclear-armed neighbours’ standoff over Kashmir that’s spilled into war.

The strategy to get Israeli Herons was imagined three years back, but the military wrote to the authorities asking for fast delivery, the sources said, as China and Pakistan develop their particular drone war abilities.

India has deployed Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along the craggy mountains of Kashmir for surveillance, in addition to around the contested boundary with China where both militaries have faced off against each other.

He added he expected the deal to be inked shortly.

The strategy to get Herons in a deal estimated at $400 million would start the choice of secret cross border strikes.

Now both armies exchange fire over the de facto Kashmir border on occasion of tension, however tend not to cross the Line of Control (LoC) by land or air.

“It’s risky, but armed UAVs can be used for counter insurgency operations internally as well across the borders; sneak attacks on terrorist hideouts in mountainous terrain, perhaps,” said an army officer in the defence planning staff.