Latest news with #HeronTP
India.com
19-05-2025
- India.com
India, China, Iran, Turkey or US, which country's military has world's most powerful and dangerous drones?
New Delhi: The role of drones has become extremely important in modern warfare and they are playing a decisive role in the Russia-Ukraine war. The world is rapidly advancing in the field of drone technology as it strengthens military power and plays a decisive role. Here we will discuss which country is possessing the most dangerous drone? United States The MQ-9 Reaper drone from the United States is considered the most powerful and dangerous drone in the world. The MQ-9 Reaper was developed by America's General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. It is known for its precise attacks. This an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is specifically designed for surveillance, target tracking, and precise strikes. The MQ-9 Reaper's striking capability, flying range, and advanced technology set it apart from other drones. This drone has an operational range of approximately 1,900 kilometers and can fly at an altitude of 50,000 feet. The MQ-9 is remotely controlled by two operators and is capable of destroying targets with high precision. Its price range is 15-30 million dollars (approximately 125 to 250 crores rupees), determined according to its capabilities. Other countries are also advancing in drone technology. Turkey Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı drones are famous for their excellent performance at a low cost. Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle is capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations. The Bayraktar Akıncı is a high-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). Akıncı is equipped with two turboprop engines of either 450 hp (460 PS; 340 kW) or 750 hp (760 PS; 560 kW), as well as electronic support and ECM systems, dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, collision avoidance radar, and advanced synthetic-aperture radar. China China also has special drones. China's Wing Loong II is a medium-altitude long-endurance drone, with a price range of 2 to 5 million dollars. It is capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight. It was intended for use as a surveillance and aerial reconnaissance and precision strike platform. It has a slender fuselage, V-tail, and ventral fin. The aircraft features retractable landing gear, including two main wheels under the fuselage and one single wheel under the nose. Each wing has three hardpoints under the wings with the capability of carrying bombs, rockets, or air-to-surface missiles. A satellite communications antenna is situated on the top front surface of the fuselage, offering long range data transmission between the UAV and the ground station. Israel Israel's Heron TP is used for strategic missions and costs 10 to 20 million dollars. The Heron TP is known for its long endurance, allowing it to operate for up to 27 hours at altitudes of up to 12.5 km. The Heron TP is used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, as well as for maritime surveillance and other strategic roles. It can fly at altitudes of up to 12.5 km (41,000 feet), providing a wide-ranging view for surveillance and reconnaissance. It utilizes advanced real-time data transmission, ensuring that critical intelligence is relayed quickly to ground operators for informed decision-making. The Heron TP is a key part of India's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, with various units of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy using it. India India has the Rustom-II (TAPAS) drone developed by DRDO. Rustom-II, also known as TAPAS-BH (Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon 201), is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by India. It's designed for observation and surveillance missions and can carry various payloads like synthetic aperture radar and electronic intelligence systems. TAPAS-BH is capable of carrying various payloads, including synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems, and situational awareness systems.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
German military to order exploding drones for first time, sources say
By Sabine Siebold (Reuters) - The German military will be armed with loitering munitions, or exploding drones, for the first time, two defense ministry sources said on Thursday, as Berlin tries to catch up with a technology that has shown its destructive power in Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine have fielded such single-use drones, which cruise towards their target before plummeting at velocity and detonating on impact. But the procurement of armed drones has been controversial in Germany, with some politicians associating them with targeted extrajudicial killings by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. It took years of heated debate before parliament agreed in 2022 to enable a large drone such as the Heron TP, which flies at much higher altitudes, to carry arms. However, military upgrades are more urgent now for Germany, amid the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine and doubts about the future of U.S. military protection. Last month, parliament approved plans for a defence spending surge worth hundreds of billions of euros. Contracts with two companies for a first batch of exploding drones will be signed in the coming days, the sources said, declining to name the companies. The army, air force and navy will test them in the following months. "The use of drones and the defence against drones is crucial for the survival of our troops on the modern battlefield, that's something we learned in Ukraine," said one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Each soldier must be capable of operating drones, just as today, everybody knows how to use binoculars." Germany will aim to sign longer-term contracts by the end of the year for a larger number of drones, shortening the period for introducing new weapons which usually takes years. As drone technology evolves rapidly, the deals will specify that companies supply a limited number initially for training purposes, and that they may be asked later to supply a larger number of the latest models at short notice, if needed. "There's no use in purchasing thousands of drones ... only to realise they are outdated by the time we need them," one of the sources said.
Arab News
03-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
German military to order exploding drones for first time, sources say
Russia and Ukraine have fielded such single-use dronesThe procurement of armed drones has been controversial in Germany BERLIN: The German military will be armed with loitering munitions, or exploding drones, for the first time, two defense ministry sources said on Thursday, as Berlin tries to catch up with a technology that has shown its destructive power in Russia and Ukraine have fielded such single-use drones, which cruise toward their target before plummeting at velocity and detonating on the procurement of armed drones has been controversial in Germany, with some politicians associating them with targeted extrajudicial killings by US forces in took years of heated debate before parliament agreed in 2022 to enable a large drone such as the Heron TP, which flies at much higher altitudes, to carry military upgrades are more urgent now for Germany, amid the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine and doubts about the future of US military month, parliament approved plans for a defense spending surge worth hundreds of billions of with two companies for a first batch of exploding drones will be signed in the coming days, the sources said, declining to name the companies. The army, air force and navy will test them in the following months.'The use of drones and the defense against drones is crucial for the survival of our troops on the modern battlefield, that's something we learned in Ukraine,' said one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.'Each soldier must be capable of operating drones, just as today, everybody knows how to use binoculars.'Germany will aim to sign longer-term contracts by the end of the year for a larger number of drones, shortening the period for introducing new weapons which usually takes drone technology evolves rapidly, the deals will specify that companies supply a limited number initially for training purposes, and that they may be asked later to supply a larger number of the latest models at short notice, if needed.'There's no use in purchasing thousands of drones ... only to realize they are outdated by the time we need them,' one of the sources said.
Reuters
03-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
German military to order exploding drones for first time, sources say
April 3 (Reuters) - The German military will be armed with loitering munitions, or exploding drones, for the first time, two defense ministry sources said on Thursday, as Berlin tries to catch up with a technology that has shown its destructive power in Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine have fielded such single-use drones, which cruise towards their target before plummeting at velocity and detonating on impact. But the procurement of armed drones has been controversial in Germany, with some politicians associating them with targeted extrajudicial killings by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. It took years of heated debate before parliament agreed in 2022 to enable a large drone such as the Heron TP ( which flies at much higher altitudes, to carry arms. However, military upgrades are more urgent now for Germany, amid the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine and doubts about the future of U.S. military protection. Last month, parliament approved plans for a defence spending surge worth hundreds of billions of euros. Contracts with two companies for a first batch of exploding drones will be signed in the coming days, the sources said, declining to name the companies. The army, air force and navy will test them in the following months. "The use of drones and the defence against drones is crucial for the survival of our troops on the modern battlefield, that's something we learned in Ukraine," said one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Each soldier must be capable of operating drones, just as today, everybody knows how to use binoculars." Germany will aim to sign longer-term contracts by the end of the year for a larger number of drones, shortening the period for introducing new weapons which usually takes years. As drone technology evolves rapidly, the deals will specify that companies supply a limited number initially for training purposes, and that they may be asked later to supply a larger number of the latest models at short notice, if needed. "There's no use in purchasing thousands of drones ... only to realise they are outdated by the time we need them," one of the sources said.
