Chinook helicopters patrol all night at an altitude of 16,000 feet to keep an eye on China

India Rs. Israel's Heron drone to be equipped with laser-guided bombs and missiles at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore

New delhi date. Sunday, August 9, 2020

There is a tense situation on the Ladakh border between India and China. There have been several rounds of talks between the two countries' military officials, but China has been carrying out provocative acts and preparing for war, in addition to talking peace along the Line of Actual Control.

In addition, Chinook helicopters of the Indian Air Force landed at an altitude of 16,000 feet above Dolat Bagh Oldi, Karakoram Pass late Saturday night after massive troop deployments and road construction activities in areas across the Line of Actual Control of the People's Liberation Army of China.

According to official sources, at a divisional commander-level meeting in Tinweinden, occupied by Aksai Chin, the Indian Army demanded reduction of tensions in the DBO sector with permission to patrol the Depsang Plague. The DBO negotiations are separate from the ongoing negotiations in the Chushlu-Moldo area as part of the withdrawal of troops and de-escalation at four friction points.

It was decided to fly a Chinook helicopter at the DBO Advance Landing Ground at night to test the Army's ability to quickly deploy Special Forces and Infantry Combat Vehicles in the event of deteriorating conditions in the Sub-Sector North.

A senior commander said an Apache attack helicopter was patrolling the Jushlu area when an American-made Chinook helicopter flew over the DBO to test its night-fighting capabilities. We have already deployed T-90 tanks and artillery guns in the area.

On the other hand, India has also started preparations to give a scathing response to China. The Indian military is likely to move ahead with its long-pending plan to upgrade Israel's Heron drone.

The Israeli drone will be equipped with capabilities such as laser bombs and anti-tank missiles. Israel's Heron drone is not new to India. The Israeli drone is currently being used by all three Indian armies. The Army has re-launched a project to buy Israeli drones under the name 'Project Cheetah' to respond to China.

The project is long pending and is estimated to cost Rs. More than Rs 3,500 crore is expected to be spent. Under the project, the Army, Navy and Air Force will upgrade 90 Army Heron drones equipped with laser-guided bombs, air-to-ground and air-to-air tank missiles.

In this project, the army has proposed to equip the drone with a strong surveillance system. This will help the Indian forces to know the position of the enemy and also to destroy it if it needs weapons. India's fleet of medium- and long-range drones Arithwa unmanned aerial vehicles mainly consists of Israeli Heron drones and UAVs.

The drones have been deployed by the Army and Air Force at a frontier post in the Ladakh sector on the border with China. The drones also help ensure the withdrawal of Chinese troops and information on construction work being carried out by them in the hinterland. Sources said the drones to be upgraded by India could be used for conventional military activity and also against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in the future.