In 1999, the Kargil conflict exposed India’s lack of effective surveillance in the battle area. It took time to pinpoint enemy-occupied positions. Impressively, an IAF pilot flew a MiG-21 with a Handycam to film enemy sites, enabling precise targeting. Now, 25 years on, India’s government has made two vital decisions to improve surveillance and security: approving Predator Drone procurement from the US and the Space Based Surveillance III initiative. Both actions will enhance strategic surveillance and send a robust signal in the region. The CCS approved acquiring 31 MQ-9B weaponized UCAVs for the three services under the Foreign Military.
