During the 1999 Kargil conflict, India’s surveillance shortcomings in the conflict zone were exposed. Locating enemy positions took considerable time. Notably, an IAF pilot used a MiG-21 and a Handycam to record enemy sites, enabling precise strikes. Now, 25 years later, India has made two key decisions to enhance surveillance and security: approving the purchase of Predator Drones from the US and launching the Space Based Surveillance III project. Both moves will strengthen strategic surveillance and send a powerful message regionally. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has cleared the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B weaponized UCAVs for all three services under the Foreign Military.
