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Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Indian Express
Drones vs fighter aircrafts: The economics and strategy of modern warfare
Written by Adya Madhavan Last week, the world paid careful attention to the air clashes between India and Pakistan. The international interest did not stem from purely altruistic concern. Governments everywhere are keen to understand how weapons systems actually perform in the unpredictable chaos of combat. Attritable weapons that are cheaper and more expendable, such as various kinds of unmanned aerial vehicles, appear to be playing a key role. Aerial combat and attacks that were once spearheaded by sophisticated combat aircraft have now evolved to make room for the humble drone. The major use of drones and their detonating cousins (loitering munitions) in the recent conflict between India and Pakistan and other conflicts of today, marks a gradual shift from relying solely on costly aircraft towards cheaper equipment with more limited capabilities. This raises some obvious questions: Are these systems really cheap enough to purchase in large numbers? And does their use in larger numbers compensate for the capabilities of more sophisticated pieces of military technology? When it comes down to price, the cost of a Rafael is about $285 million while the Elbit Skystriker, a loitering munition used by India against Pakistan costs merely $105,000. This makes cheaper munitions lucrative for militaries looking to perform aerial strikes. But this calculation doesn't make sense since munitions like the Skystriker are one-time use 'suicide' weapons that have no scope for being used multiple times. The obvious advantage of all kinds of uncrewed systems is the absence of a human pilot, allowing them to perform risky operations without the gamble of a human life. Training pilots on uncrewed systems is typically cheaper and in the event that UAVs are shot down, pilots are not lost with them. However, the higher the number of uninhibited platforms used, the more remote pilots needed operating them remotely – thus offsetting some of the cost advantages. However, this is a trade-off, since most UAVs are dependent on some form of communication with operators – be it radio frequency communication or SATCOM or any other system – which make them vulnerable to interference, interception and signal jamming. Systems which do have some degree of autonomy and operate in limited contexts, are widely touted for increasing precision and operational efficiency. On the flipside, they also risk accidentally misidentifying targets, resulting in civilian casualties and consequently causing inadvertent escalation. When it comes to sheer capabilities, as of now, advanced fighter jets continue to outperform at least the more rudimentary UAVs. For instance, the Rafael can carry external payloads of up to 9,500 kg and is capable of reaching a maximum speed of Mach 1.8. Meanwhile the Israeli Harop – a loitering munition used by India can carry a 23 kg warhead, and reach a speed of 417 kmph. These UAVs and munitions are not designed to replace fighter aircraft, but for precision strikes in environments that do not require complex context-based decision making. More evolved armed UAVs like the MQ 9-B that India is purchasing from the United States are relatively more capable, but these are seldom used as frequently as some of their cheaper counterparts. While their ability to loiter gives drones and UAVs some flexibility while they identify and zero in on targets, they must still act rapidly enough to avoid enemy air defences. Their advantage lies in their ability to perform reconnaissance, and unlike crewed aircraft, countries are more than willing to expend a few of them in order to gain a better understanding of enemy landscape. Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) platforms, such as Israel's Heron TP, are useful for reconnaissance missions given their long endurance and ability to fly above commercial air traffic. MALE UAVs can also be used for risky operations such as the suppression of enemy air defences. As for their effectiveness for strike operations, these attritable aircraft may not deliver high weapons payloads, but they seem to crudely 'do the job' when the objective is to damage infrastructure and attack terrorist bases. When enemy air defences engage them, many of these UAVs appear to be easy to take down, considering their limited speed and service ceiling, but given their lower costs, countries are more than willing to put them at risk in order to try and achieve their military objectives. In the coming years, the rapidly advancing landscape of military tech will likely see an increase in the development of more sophisticated UAVs, which may be more capable of acting as pseudo-aircraft. Future warfare is likely to see developments such as uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft that can work in tandem with manned aircraft. Going forward, as the character of warfare changes, it is imperative for India to build its own fleets of jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles to remain technologically competitive and avoid foreign dependence in a time of changing global dynamics. The writer is a policy researcher at the Takshashila Institution
News18
09-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
India-Pakistan War: What Are Loitering Munitions Or 'Suicide Drones'?
Last Updated: A Bengaluru-based firm, with an Israeli partner, has built these stealthy, autonomous drones capable of surveillance, target tracking and precision strikes with high accuracy The indigenous 'Nagastra-1' suicide drone took centre stage during Operation Sindoor, as India showcased its growing military prowess through a series of precision strikes. In a bold display of advanced drone capabilities, the Indian armed forces extensively deployed loitering munitions to target terrorist bases across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), sending a clear message to the world about the country's technological edge in modern warfare. Loitering munitions, often referred to as suicide drones, were used by Indian forces on the night of May 6-7 to strike nine terrorist bases. These drones were also employed to counter any provocative actions by the Pakistani Army, penetrating deep into Pakistani territory to destroy numerous terrorist bases. Equipped with explosive warheads, these drones can find, track and precisely attack their targets. These state-of-the-art drones were developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru. A private company based in Bengaluru, in collaboration with an Israeli military technology firm, has built these fully autonomous unmanned aerial systems (UAS). They excel in surveillance, target tracking, and precision strikes and feature a low radar cross-section, making them difficult for enemy air defence systems to detect. The Indian Army utilised these drones to obliterate the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters in Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) hideout in Muridke. Additionally, the Skystriker loitering munitions, developed by Alpha Design Technologies (India) and Elbit Systems (Israel), played a crucial role in the anti-terrorism operation. With a range of 100 km and the capability to carry 5 to 10 kg of explosives, the Skystriker was used for the first time in an attack against terrorists, marking a significant milestone in India's counter-terrorism efforts. On Thursday, India thwarted Pakistan's attempts to target military sites using drones and missiles in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, and other critical locations. According to the Defence Ministry, Pakistan aimed at military installations in 15 cities across northern and western India, including Srinagar, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Bhuj. These failed attempts by Pakistani forces came in response to the bold counter-terror operation on Wednesday, which involved precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in PoK and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian government described the action as a pre-emptive measure to safeguard national security and deter further cross-border aggression. First Published: May 09, 2025, 10:59 IST
Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Imagined in Israel, built in Bengaluru, how SkyStriker suicide drones hit terror targets during Operation Sindoor
When India launched 'Operation Sindoor' in the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, SkyStriker suicide drones built in Bengaluru played a crucial role in destroying terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Defence sources in Delhi confirmed that Skystriker suicide drones were used in the operation. Bengaluru-headquartered Alpha Design Technologies, in partnership with Israel's Elbit Systems, manufactured the drones in Bengaluru. Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited has a 26 per cent stake in Alpha Design Technologies. Speaking to The Indian Express, Colonel (retd) H S Shankar, Chief Managing Director, Alpha Design Technologies, said the Ministry of Defence has asked him not to speak to the media. Incidentally, H S Shankar, who has served in Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) before, was the project director when Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were designed. According to the sources, the Indian Army had placed an order for 100 SkyStrikers in 2021, and the SkyStriker drone was also exhibited during the Aero India expo that year. However, the defence forces have not disclosed the number of SkyStrikers used for Operation Sindoor. Elbit, which conceptualised the SkyStriker drone, has mentioned on its website that the unmanned aircraft system is capable of carrying out long-range, precise tactical strikes. The SkyStriker suicide drone can carry a warhead of up to 10 kg. Elbit states, 'As a silent, invisible, and surprise attacker, SkyStriker delivers the utmost in precision and reliability, providing a critical advantage in the modern battlefield. SkyStriker provides manoeuvrable troops and Special Forces with direct-fire aerial-precision capabilities, enhancing situational awareness and survivability.'
News18
08-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
This Bengaluru-Made 'Suicide Drone' Wreaked Havoc In Pakistan As India Launched Operation Sindoor
Last Updated: The suicide drones were part of India's retaliatory action on terror camps. As India avenged the April 22 Pahalgam attack, the Indian Army deployed indigenously-built 'suicide drones' to launch precision strikes on terror bases deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Officially referred to as Low-Cost Miniature Swarm Drone or Loitering Munition System (LMS), the Skystriker suicide drones are designed to locate, acquire and strike operator-designated targets with a warhead installed in the fuselage. The suicide drones were part of India's retaliatory action on terror camps. According to The Times Of India, an unspecified number of these suicide drones were manufactured in an industrial estate in western Bengaluru as part of a joint venture involving Bengaluru-headquartered Alpha Design and Israel's Elbit Security Systems. The Army reportedly had placed an emergency procurement order in 2021 for 100-odd SkyStrikers. With a range of 100 km, each suicide drone is an autonomous system carrying a 5 kg or 10 kg warhead. Its electric propulsion offers a minimal acoustic signature, allowing covert operations at low altitude. The SkyStriker is considered as a cost-effective loitering munition, capable of long-range precision. The drone improves performance, situational awareness and survivability by providing direct-fire aerial-precision capabilities to manoeuvrable troops and special forces. It is believed that the Skystriker flies like a UAS (unmanned aircraft system) and strikes like a missile. First Published: May 08, 2025, 08:19 IST
