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News18
09-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Has India-Pakistan Drone War Started? Here Are The Details Of The Drones Deployed
Last Updated: HAROP drones, a loitering munition, were reportedly used by Indian armed forces to carry out precision strikes on air defence systems in Pakistan In a dramatic escalation late Thursday evening, Pakistan attempted to attack 15 cities in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. However, the 50 drones launched by Pakistan were neutralised by the Indian Army's Air Defence units late Thursday. In a comprehensive counter-drone operation, the Army Air Defence units deployed advanced weaponry including L-70 guns, Zu-23mm, Schilka systems, and specialised counter-UAS equipment across multiple sectors including Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota and Pathankot. The armed forces used the S-400 Sudarshan Chakra defence missile system to take down Pakistani drones and missiles fired towards the 15 Indian cities. Let us look at the drones used by the two countries. Drones Used By India HARPY: The drones are designed to target enemy air defence systems in Pakistan. They are optimised for the suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) role. It carries a high-explosive warhead. Equipped with an Anti-Radiation (AR) seeker, HARPY can autonomously seek and strike emitting, high-value targets. It operates in deep strike missions lasting up to 9 hours, day and night, in all weather conditions, and in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)-denied or contested battlefields. It is equipped to hunt, seek targets in a designated area, locate and identify their frequency, and autonomously pursue a strike from any direction, at shallow or steep dive profiles. Heron: India inducted the Heron Mark-2 drones in 2023, with which it has significantly expanded its high-altitude surveillance and strike capability. The drones are capable of monitoring both China and Pakistan frontiers in a single sortie. An upgrade to the long-serving Heron Mark-1, the Mark-2 features a 3,000-km range and 24-hour endurance. It is outfitted with synthetic aperture radar, EO/IR cameras, and a laser designator—allowing for around-the-clock reconnaissance and precision target marking. Drones Used By Pakistan The Indian Army successfully shot down 50 swarm drones deployed by Pakistan to breach the LoC and International borders on Thursday evening. Swarm Drones: SWARM stands for 'Smart War-Fighting Array of Reconfigured Modules." A Swarm drone typically consists of multiple drones working in coordination, communicating with one another, and sharing information to achieve a common objective. These drones can range from small quadcopters to larger fixed-wing drones. The swarm's strength lies in its ability to function as a collective unit, leveraging swarm intelligence algorithms and advanced software to operate seamlessly and efficiently. These drones are equipped with AI and can communicate with each other as well as with the control station. Which India Cities Did Pakistan Target? Pakistan attempted to engage military targets in 15 cities –Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. However, the planned attacks were averted by the Indian Army. The attack comes after India launched missile strikes on May 7 against nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, marking the latest phase of Operation Sindoor. The strikes targeted key terrorist strongholds, including Jaish-e-Mohammad's Bahawalpur base and Lashkar-e-Taiba's Muridke facility, and were a direct response to the killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In retaliation, the Indian Armed Forces on May 8 struck Pakistani Air Defence Radars and systems. India stressed that its response mirrored the scale and intensity of the Pakistani strikes but remained within the bounds of proportionality. The statement further said Pakistan had intensified its unprovoked artillery fire across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. Mortars and heavy-calibre artillery were fired in the Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri sectors. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : drones india india Pakistan relations Indian Army News18 Explains Operation Sindoor Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 09, 2025, 12:50 IST News explainers Has India-Pakistan Drone War Started? Here Are The Details Of The Drones Deployed
India Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
What is drone warfare? A simple explainer amid India-Pakistan tensions
In the wake of rising tensions along the Indo-Pakistan border, residents in the region have witnessed drone and missile attacks from Pakistan for two consecutive nights. This escalation followed India's targeted strikes on terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan. The chain of events was triggered by a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 26 tourists -- including a Nepali national -- were use of drones by Pakistan signals a shift in the nature of modern warfare, pointing towards a new era dominated by unmanned aerial this is not the first instance of drones being used in international conflict, similar tactics have been seen in the ongoing three-year-long Russo-Ukraine war and in Israel, where Iran recently launched a barrage of drone like the United States, the United Kingdom, and France have also demonstrated their drone capabilities in operations targeting terrorist networks across various regions of the too, has employed drones in recent operations, including the recently conducted Operation Sindoor and retaliatory strikes against Pakistan. Indian drones, such as the HARPY -- an Israeli-made loitering munition -- have played a significant role in these have long warned that drone warfare will increasingly shape 21st-century conflicts. As the global military landscape continues to evolve, it is becoming clear that unmanned systems are poised to dominate future the early years of the 21st century, most drone strikes were carried out by the US military in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, and Libya, using air-to-surface missiles against ground warfare has since been adopted by countries like Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran, as well as by non-state actors such as the IS DRONE WARFARE?Drone warfare refers to a mode of warfare employing unmanned or remotely controlled devices. Such drones have the capability of staying in the air, on land, at sea level, or underwater. The drones may be operated by manual control, and others may utilise auto-pilot systems on their or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, is commonly known as a drone. It is the flying component of the RPAS, operated without a human pilot onboard. RPAS which establishes the communication link between them, stands for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System. It refers to a set of components that include the drone, its ground-based control nations, such as the US, UK, Israel, China, India, Russia, and Turkey, have produced combat drones, or UCAVs (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles).These are employed in targeted attacks, frequently in locations difficult to access by conventional second stage of drone application is artificial intelligence. AI drones can navigate on their own, detect targets, and even operate in "swarm" groups which were used by Pakistan to attack such as the DJI Matrice 300 are already employing AI in combat zones like Ukraine to find and lock onto threats independent of human technology advances, drones will increasingly be utilised for military and civilian OF UAVsEarlier, even in the 1960s, British Commonwealth artillery regiments started developing drones for target identification and extending their though the gadgets have advanced over time, their primary application -- surveillance and acquisition of targets -- has remained past two decades saw US set the trend world-wide with using drones for its counterterrorism action in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen with precision attacks minimising personnel was the Ukraine war that saw a turning point. Russian and Ukrainian forces both used small drones on a massive scale for real-time intelligence and direct drones, usually locally constructed, were lower in cost and more maneuverable, better capable of evading modern air defences than big drones such as the Predator or Reaper, which were rapidly 2023, small drones had evolved to accommodate multiple payloads - from infrared detectors to electronic warfare with gas and machine guns during World War I, drones are now evolving faster than the laws intended to regulate makes it imperative for military strategists and policymakers to get ahead -- not only with technology, but with ethics and regulation as United Nations defines targeted killing as the planned and deliberate use of lethal force by a state, its agents, or an armed group during conflict, aimed at a specific person who is not in their InMust Watch
India Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
India hits Lahore in retaliation hours after taking down its air defence: Sources
The Indian Air Force thwarted an aerial attack by Pakistan earlier today, leaving Lahore's defence systems defenceless. Hours later, the already crippled Lahore base has been hit again, as India retaliated, sources told India Today TV, this time to Pakistan's shelling in parts of Jammu, Pathankot and is being seen as a well-thought-out move on India's part, given how Lahore's air defence radar systems were already severely damaged by India's S-400 defence system in the earlier today, Pakistan's HQ-9 missile defence system units, developed by China, were hit by Israeli-made HARPY kamikaze drones, effectively rendering the Pakistani army defenceless in Lahore, sources told India Today TV. Despite a damaged defence system, Pakistan targeted military stations in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur using missiles and one drone hit the Jammu airport, several missiles and drones were intercepted by India using the S-400 air defence system. Two Kamikaze drones were shot down in India has launched counterstrikes on Pakistan's defence systems again, in retaliation to the fresh also shot down Pakistan's F-16 and two JF-17 aircraft, and Pakistan's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) inside its Punjab province, sources attempted to strike multiple military targets across northern and western India using drones and missiles earlier on Thursday. The targets included bases in Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and projectiles were intercepted and neutralised by the S-400 air defence systems, dubbed 'Sudarshan Chakra'.Tune InMust Watch
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Business Standard
08-05-2025
- Business Standard
Operation Sindoor: What are HAROP drones India has bought from Israel?
The HAROP drone, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), represents a significant shift in the way modern militaries engage high-value targets. Designed as a loitering munition, this hybrid between a drone and a missile is capable of autonomous reconnaissance, target identification, and lethal strikes, all without prior intelligence input. With a growing list of operators, including India and Azerbaijan, the HAROP is rapidly becoming important when it comes to precision warfare. What is the HAROP drone and how does it work? At its core, the HAROP is a long-range loitering munition (also known as a suicide drone) developed by IAI's MBT Missiles Division. It is a second-generation system that builds on earlier platforms like the HARPY. The HAROP acts as both a surveillance tool and a weapon, thanks to its real-time intelligence capabilities and built-in explosive payload. Once launched from a sealed canister mounted on a ground or naval platform, the drone can loiter over an area for up to nine hours. If no target is identified, it can return safely, allowing for reuse under certain conditions. When a target is confirmed—such as a radar installation, command centre, or air defence system—the drone dives into it, destroying the object with its 23-kg warhead. HAROP drone specifications and key features Endurance: Up to 9 hours Operational range: Up to 1,000 km (standoff launch) Effective range (from launch point): Up to 200 km Warhead: 23 kg (51 lb) Launch platform: Ground vehicles, naval vessels (sealed canisters) Navigation: GNSS-resistant systems Sensors: EO/IR/FLIR/CCD camera; anti-radar homing Human oversight in autonomous targeting The HAROP features a 'man-in-the-loop' control system. Operators monitor its flight and targeting in real time via a two-way data link, allowing them to abort or reassign missions mid-flight. This flexibility helps reduce the risk of collateral damage, particularly in urban or sensitive environments. The drone is equipped with electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR), forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors, and a colour CCD camera. It also has anti-radar homing capability, allowing it to autonomously zero in on electronic emissions—a valuable asset in Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) operations. Combat experience and confirmed use cases The HAROP's efficacy is not theoretical. It has seen combat in multiple conflict zones. Azerbaijan deployed the drone during the 2016 and 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh wars, where it was reportedly used to strike Armenian air defences and fortified positions. The system was also employed in Syria, with a confirmed 2018 strike on a Russian-made SA-22 Greyhound air defence system and an additional use reported in December 2024. While IAI has not officially disclosed the full list of operators, India and Azerbaijan are confirmed buyers. Reports suggest that Türkiye may have also begun deploying the HAROP as early as 2005. How loitering munitions differ from conventional UAVs Loitering munitions like the HAROP differ from conventional UAVs or cruise missiles in both design and function. Unlike UAVs, which typically return after a surveillance mission, and cruise missiles that follow pre-defined routes to fixed targets, loitering munitions hover in contested airspace waiting for opportunities to strike. They require no advanced intelligence, can operate in jammed environments, and cancel or redirect strikes on the fly—capabilities few missile systems or drones offer. What the HAROP drone means for India's military strategy The HAROP is engineered for use across a range of military operations, from urban counter-terror missions to high-intensity conflict zones. Its ability to loiter for extended durations makes it ideal for tracking mobile or time-sensitive targets. The system can be deployed from mobile ground units or aboard naval vessels, making it adaptable to various tactical needs. India has steadily increased its military cooperation with Israel, purchasing approximately $2.9 billion worth of defence equipment over the last decade. The procurement has included radars, drones, and missile systems, with the HAROP being one of the key acquisitions.
India Gazette
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Pakistan attempts to target military installations in Amritsar, repelled by India's counter grid
New Delhi [India], May 8 (ANI): After India executed Operation Sindoor in which nine terror sites deep inside Pakistan were destroyed, the Pakistan brass responded in Panic. Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets on the night of May 7. One of those were Military Installation in Amritsar, all the attempts were neutralised. The military targets were engaged in Northern and Western India, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks. Indian Air Force S-400 Sudarshan Chakra air defence missile systems were also fired last night against targets moving towards India. The targets were successfully neutralised in the operation, multiple domain experts told ANI. An official Government confirmation is awaited. This morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised. The Harpy drones, designed to attack radar systems, were used by the Indian armed forces to target enemy air defence systems in Pakistan. The Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised by Indian military drone action. The Harpy is designed to attack radar systems and is optimised for the suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) role. It carries a high-explosive warhead. Equipped with an Anti-Radiation (AR) seeker, HARPY can autonomously seek and strike emitting, high-value targets. The HARPY operates in deep strike missions lasting up to 9 hours, day and night, in all weather conditions, and in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)-denied or contested battlefields. HARPY is equipped to hunt--seek targets in a designated area, locate and identify their frequency, and autonomously pursue a strike from any direction, at shallow or steep dive profiles. Earlier, sources said that over 100 terrorists were eliminated with a series of precision strikes launched in the early hours of Wednesday. The operation, aimed at avenging the Pahalgam terror attack, remains underway, making it challenging to provide an exact casualty count of the terrorists at this stage, sources further stated. The strikes, executed by the Indian Armed Forces, targeted nine key terror camps in Pakistan linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen. Four of the targets were located inside Pakistan and the remaining five were situated in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The security forces targeted four terrorist camps in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sarjal, and Mehmoona Joya. The five other locations in PoJK on India's target were Markaz Ahle Hadith Barnala in Bhimber, Markaz Abbas and Maskar Raheel Shahid in Kotli, Shawai Nallah Camp, and Markaz Syedna Bilal, in Muzaffarabad. Meanwhile, Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control using mortars and heavy calibre artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani firing. India was compelled to respond to bring Mortar and Artillery fire from Pakistan to a halt. Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military. (ANI)
