Indian Army has deployed Herons in Northern part of Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) to track the movement of Kashmiris. 16 Herons were originally supplied to the Indian Army in 2007 by IAI – 8 of which are thought to be operated out of several bases including Mansbal.
“The UAS are fitted with human movement detection sensors. These fly from army’s aviation base located at Mansbal in north Kashmir every evening. The UAS move in different directions in Kupwara and Bandipore districts to keep a watchful eye on the Line of Control.” a Srinagar-based daily newspaper quoting Indian defence sources reported.
While confirming the deployment of UAS, Indian Defence spokesman Lt Col J S Brar talking to media men in Srinagar said, “Yes, UAS are being used. In fact, UAS and other surveillance devices, including thermal devices, hand held thermal imagers, night vision devices and night vision goggles are being used by army along the Line of Control.” The report said that the UAS were used for the first time by Indian army in 2010 on experimental basis.