India orders Israeli MALE UAV
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to receive ten MALE UAVs from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), according to information released in September.
The platform chosen under the estimated US$400 million deal was the 4,650kg Heron TP, also known as the Eitan. The first examples should be flying in IAF livery within 12-18 months as the project is fast-tracked by the government.
Official Indian sources have not confirmed that its Heron TPs will be armed, but local media suggest that they will be used as strike platforms.
The Indian military had earlier attempted to acquire Herons in 2012, but
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