Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)                                                                   

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Why in news?

• Army Aviation has recently got control of the Heron-I Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in the Eastern sector, which were earlier with the Artillery, bringing all aviation assets under one roof and augmenting its ability to keep an eye on Chinese activities across the border.

Army Aviation Brigade

• The Army Aviation Brigade at Missamari was raised to enable better command and control of aviation resources.
• The Brigade operates the Cheetah and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv utility helicopters, Rudra weaponsied ALH and Heron-I UAVs.
• With the UAVs being under the Army Aviation, the receipt capability has become seamless and more responsive.
• All aerial assets are under one umbrella which allows optimised employment of RPAs during operations in conjunction with other aviation assets.
• It also helps in upgradation of flight safety management and practices and also boosts training infrastructure for RPA aircrew.
• It also ensures better maintenance and serviceability by optimising the supply chain and spares management.
• It smoothens out the Command and Control process especially during operations.
• The Army has 90 ALH and 75 Rudra helicopters in service which are indigenously designed and developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Heron-I UAVs

• The Israeli Heron-I UAVs are in the process of being upgraded.
• Army has recently leased four Heron-TP Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from Israel Aircraft Industries which are much more capable than the Heron-1s.
• These are expected to be deployed in Eastern Ladakh in the backdrop of the standoff which began last year and is still continuing.

Issue of concern

• Ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters and their delayed replacement.
• About 75% of the Army’s fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, which are its mainstay, is over 30 years old and some of them are about 50 years old.
• The technical life of these helicopters will wind down from 2023, which will further exacerbate the deficiencies.
• The Ka-226T utility helicopter deal with Russia along with the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) meant to replace them has been stalled for several years over the percentage of indigenisation.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uavs-aviation-unit-boost-army-surveillance-in-eastern-sector/article37042275.ece