The 1999 Kargil conflict highlighted India’s surveillance gaps in the war zone. Identifying enemy positions took significant time. Remarkably, an IAF pilot innovated by flying a MiG-21 with a Handycam to capture enemy locations, aiding accurate targeting. Now, 25 years later, India’s government has taken two major steps to enhance surveillance and security: approving the procurement of Predator Drones from the US and the Space Based Surveillance III project. These measures will improve strategic surveillance and deliver a strong regional message. The CCS has sanctioned the purchase of 31 MQ-9B armed UCAVs for the three services under the Foreign Military.
