(a) whether the Government proposes to procure Drone aircraft;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the areas of its deployment; and
(d) the steps for indigenous development of the said aircraft or its alternatives?
(a) whether the Government proposes to procure Drone aircraft;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the areas of its deployment; and
(d) the steps for indigenous development of the said aircraft or its alternatives?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Contract for procurement of two Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAV) – Drone aircraft and it’s associated equipment from M/s IAI, Israel was signed on 4th
March 2010.
(c) Maritime surveillance of the Western and Eastern seaboard.
(d) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed one type of Drone
aircraft (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) called NISHANT for which Army has placed Limited Series
Production (LSP) order. Lakshya is another target Drone aircraft which has already been
inducted into all the three Services.