Drones Dominate Skies, Stocks Surge Up To 15% As Cross-Border Strikes Intensify
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Indian stocks tied to unmanned warfare and defence technologies rallied sharply on Friday, with gains of up to 15%
Drone Stocks: Indian stocks tied to unmanned warfare and defence technologies rallied sharply on Friday, with gains of up to 15%, after New Delhi launched drone-led precision strikes on Pakistani military assets. The escalation followed overnight drone and missile attacks by Pakistan that deepened hostilities along the western border.
IdeaForge Technology surged 14.71% to Rs 443 on the BSE, leading the rally in defence-linked equities. Droneacharya Aerial Innovations jumped 5% to Rs 68, ZEN Technologies advanced 5% to Rs 1,406.35, and Paras Defence and Space Technologies rose 3.9% to Rs 1,414.
The broader market opened lower amid rising tensions, as the Indian Army reported that Pakistani forces had carried out multiple drone and munition strikes overnight across Jammu and Kashmir. Explosions were heard in Jammu on Thursday night during attacks on Indian military installations, which have left nearly four dozen people dead across both sides so far.
The surge in drone-related stocks came in response to Thursday morning's Indian air strikes—marking a shift from counterterrorism operations to direct military-on-military engagement. Indian forces reportedly used Harop suicide drones to destroy HQ-9 air defence systems of Chinese origin deployed by Pakistan in Lahore and Multan.
'This was a calibrated, domain-equivalent response," an Indian official told The Economic Times, confirming the destruction of Pakistani air defence systems.
Pakistan had earlier targeted 14 Indian locations—including Chandigarh, Bhuj, and Srinagar—using drones and missiles. Officials said India's integrated air defence network, incorporating indigenous, Russian, and Israeli systems, intercepted the majority of incoming threats. An enemy fighter jet was also reportedly downed.
Cross-border firing intensified Friday, with Pakistani forces shelling areas in Uri, Kupwara, and Poonch. Indian forces are responding forcefully to these provocations, officials said.
As the conflict escalates, investor sentiment appears to be rallying behind India's expanding defence manufacturing ecosystem, particularly in the unmanned systems domain, which is proving central to modern warfare.
Disclaimer:Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
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