Professor Satya Narayan Misra in Bhubaneswar, April 26, 2025: The dastardly murder of 26 tourists at Pahalgam, by terrorists from across Pakistan, has raised the legitimate question of the wanton failure of our intelligence agencies and laxity of security agencies. More so, since the Kargil Review Committee, after the Kargil incursion in 1999, had observed that RAW’s human intelligence was weak, leading to the creation of NTRO, a Centralized Communication Electronic Agency in 2004.

It may be recalled that the then COAS General Malik, in his book “Kargil: From Surprise to Victory, blamed the intelligence agencies for their failure to predict the intrusion, while the RAW officials told the PM, “General Malik went to happy sleep during the winter. He is now blaming the intelligence agencies for not preventing him from sleeping”.

Chastened by that experience, India has been buying many search drones (around 90) from Israel since 2002, and two years back, 31 MQ9B Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from the USA at around $3.5 billion. They are like eyes in the sky for the defense services for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) purposes.

Israel has been at the forefront of manufacturing UAVs, accounting for 60%, and the USA (24%), the major companies being General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, TAI, and IAI (Israel Aircraft Industries). India has been buying High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (HALE) variety from IAI since 2002. They fly at a height up to 35000 feet, with a maximum take-off weight of 600 kg and endurance up to 52 hours.

The Heron navigates using an internal navigation device and carries an array of sensors, including an infrared camera, airborne surveillance, and intelligence systems (COMINT & ELINT), and various radar systems, with a payload of about 250 kgs. The payload sensors communicate with the ground control system in real time, using either a direct line of sight data link or via a satellite relay.

Indian Armed Forces initially purchased 12 Heron drones along with search drones from IAI ( Malat Division). Buoyed by its satisfactory performance during rescue missions after the 2004 Tsunami, an additional order was placed for 50 Heron UAVs in 2005. Though UAVs from alternate sources, the Indian Armed Forces wanted compatibility with the earlier Herons procured from Israel.

The Vajpayee government also found in Israel, a reliable military ally, given the support it extended during the Kargil operation by supplying Anti-Material rifles (AMRs), which could bust bunkers, where the Pak intruders had fortified themselves. The contract in 2005 cost India $220 m, with each drone costing Rs 80 Cr.

The Army deployed drones in the Regiment of Artillery for target acquisition roles. After the standoff with China in 2020, the Heron units were placed under the Army Aviation Brigade at Assam. In 2020, IAF purchased additional units of Heron MK I to complement the existing fleet.

Under Project Cheetah, upgradation and weaponization of existing 90 Herons have been undertaken with satellite communication, advanced reconnaissance equipment, laser-guided bombs, air-launched anti-tank guided missiles & other precision-guided missions for $460 million in 2023. Heron MK 2 have been ordered on IAI, 4 units for the Army & 6 for the Air Force, of which 4 have been deployed by the IAF in the Northern sector.

In a major development, India has procured 31 MQ-9 B Predator drones from the United States through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route for $3.5 billion for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and strike missions for the Navy & sky guardians for the Army & Air Force in places like INS Rajaji, Chennai & Porbandar in Gujarat and Airforce bases in Sarsawa & Gorakhpur.

The DRDO, which is engaged in developing alternative indigenous systems and platforms, has been trying to develop an indigenous UAV since 1995 with a Nishant UAV. Two of them crashed in 2015. It undertook Project TAPAS BH to develop a medium altitude long- endurance UAV for 1650 cr to be completed by 2016. The Project has been shelved as it could not achieve the endurance of 24 hours at 30000 feet. It also has severe technological limitations in developing an engine and payloads. When it comes to subsystems like propulsion, weapons like air-to-air missiles or sensors like Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radars or passive seekers, Focal Plane Array (FPA), DRDO has an unedifying record in state-of-the-art defence subsystems.

Dr Kalam as Scientific Advisor to RM had headed a Self-Reliance Index (SRI) Committee in 1993, which had assessed our overall self-reliance capability at 30% in defense subsystems. It set a road map to achieve 70% self-reliance by 2005, through design development collaboration with reputed global design houses and Joint Ventures with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Thanks to his foresight, we have successfully collaborated with Russia to develop Brahmos cruise missiles through a Joint Venture and medium-range surface-to-air missiles (MR-SAM) by having design and development collaboration with IAI, Israel, from whom we have bought a large number of Heron drones.

According to reports, Heron drones equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance technology are actively engaged in operations above forested regions where terrorists are suspected to have suspected to have taken refuge. The recently introduced Herons are also believed to be participating in the ongoing operations. It’s really surprising that the IAF which maintains a fleet of over 180 UAVs, which are so potent in surveillance and intelligence gathering, were not used in time to prevent such a colossal loss of life of hapless tourists.

While Mr Modi professes Make in India, when it comes to major defence platforms like fighter aircraft, he opts for the direct buy of Rafale aircraft from France, instead of opting for technology transfer as was originally envisaged through HAL, the defence PSU. In case of HALE UAVs, there are suggestions to collaborate with IAI to produce in India.

While going for multi-billion-dollar contracts with the USA for 31 MQ-9 B Reaper UAVs, the opportunity to avail of technology transfer was not explored. The vision of Kalalam to have technological collaboration in niche technology is being given a short shrift. The intelligence failure of Kargil has been repeated. Yet the quest for accountability is being glossed over in the hype of hyper nationalism.

* Formerly JS (HAL), Ministry of Defense