TV
In the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, India has reportedly employed Israeli-made kamikaze drones, notably the Harop loitering munitions, to target Pakistani military assets.
These drones, designed to loiter over targets before self-destructing upon impact, have been used to neutralize air defense systems, including one in Lahore.
The Suicide Drones
As per reports, Harop is a loitering munition, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The suicide drone has ‘nine-hour endurance to seek targets in a designated area, locate and identify them, plan an attack route, and then pursue the strike from any direction.
Reports said it can be launched from sealed canisters aboard land and naval platforms. The drone carries a 23kg warhead and retains a man-in-the-loop feature, allowing human operators to abort the attack or retarget mid-flight.
India has reportedly bought over 100 Harop drones to bolster defences along its border with Pakistan and China. India is yet to officially respond to Pakistan’s allegations of sending the Harop drones.
SkyStriker Loitering Munitions
In addition to the Harop, India has also procured the SkyStriker loitering munitions, a tactical kamikaze drone developed by Israel's Elbit Systems. These drones, capable of carrying a 5-10 kg warhead, are manufactured in India through a joint venture and are intended for tactical operations, offering flexibility in engaging targets.
As tensions continue, the deployment of such advanced unmanned systems underscores the evolving nature of the conflict and the increasing reliance on drone warfare in the region.
