Page 14 - ADT JANUARY 2021 Online Magazine

Israel in the Lead for the country’s Air Force, Navy, the Air Force. [ UNMANNED SYSTEMS ]
According to a 2017 RUSI study, Israel’s grip on the global military The Indian Ministry of Defence is moving ahead
drone market has only strengthened with time; the country which with its plans that are based on a blueprint to
exported more than 40 percent of all drones between 2001 and procure more than 5,000 UAVs before 2030.
2011, had a 60% market share by 2016, and was selling to at least
50 nations. The Indian Army, which has in its arsenal the
Heron MALE UAV and the smaller Searcher
Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI), one of the major players in the Mark II tactical drones, both built by Israel
market along with GA-ASI, unveiled the Heron Mk II MALE UAV at Aerospace Industries, wants to add 120 HALE
the 2020 Singapore Airshow. The company expects the aircraft to UAVs to expand its ISR capabilities. India is also
be popular in Asia and is already in discussions with potential cus- in discussions with the U.S. to acquire the armed
tomers, including Singapore that is looking to upgrade its UAV fleet. version of the MQ-9B SeaGuardian, the naval
A slightly larger version of Heron 1, the Heron Mk II has a maximum variant of the MQ-9B MALE Remotely Piloted
endurance of 45 hours, a longer and wider forward fuselage as Aircraft System (RPAS) made by General
well as an improved Rotax 915 iS engine. It has a 50% faster rate Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI).
of climb compared to Heron 1, and a top speed of 140 knots, com- The U.S. had offered to sell the unarmed version
pared to the 120 knots of the Heron 1. The drone has a maximum of the SeaGuardian drone to the Indian Navy,
takeoff weight of 1,350 kg (2,976 pounds) and a payload capacity but India, which has an eye on the budget and
of 470 kg (1,036 pounds). Compared to Heron 1, the Heron Mk II is not keen on separate UAVs for surveillance
has a wider front section that can accommodate a greater array of and targeting, is reportedly eyeing the armed
sensors. The UAV can also carry sonobuoys and magnetic anomaly Predator-B, also known as the MQ-9 Reaper.
detectors to carry out anti-submarine warfare. The drone, capable of carrying four Hell-Fire
missiles and two 500 pounds of laser-guided
In recent years, two Chinese MALE platforms - Wing Loong 2 and bombs, has been used in Iraq, Afghanistan
CH4 – have taken the market by storm, with Pakistan, Algeria, Egypt, and Syria, and would meet the requirements
Ethiopia, Iraq, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia among the countries to of all three services, defence officials say. The
acquire them. Turkey is another player in the market, with its Anka MQ-9B SkyGuardian, designed for use by air
MALE drone and TB2 Bayraktar Tactical UAS; Ukraine and Qatar force units, is a variant of the Predator- B RPA
have TB2 Bayraktar. that meets NATO standards and is expected
to meet global airworthiness certification stan-
Major Buyer dards.
India, a true weapon-maker’s delight, headline the list of countries
that are looking to buy military drones from international companies The SeaGuardian continues to be the Navy’s
even while developing and producing indigenous UAVs. Drones preferred option. In November last year, the

of every kind - Medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAVs, service took on lease two of the RPAS from
tactical UAVs, high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAVs, and GA-ASI as part of its plan to improve surveil-
vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones - are on the wish list lance over the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The

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