ISLAMABAD: Following the April 22, 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, inwhich 26 tourists lost their lives, India launched *Operation Sindoor* onMay 7 to strike infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan‑administeredKashmir. Over four days, India used drones, missiles, and long‑range assetsto hit nine terror sites, claiming the death of more than 100 terroristsand minimal collateral damage. The operation concluded on May 10 with aceasefire agreement.
Pakistani officials confirmed that India used Israeli-made *Harop loiteringmunition drones*—often referred to as “suicide” or “kamikazedrones”—designed and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).These drones feature remote human‑in‑the‑loop control, can loiter forhours, have ranges up to several hundred kilometers, and carry ahigh‑explosive warhead.
According to Pakistan’s Inter‑Services Public Relations (ISPR), itsmilitary intercepted and shot down *25 Harop drones* during the strikes,recovering wreckage in cities including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi,Sialkot, and Umerkot. At least one drone reportedly partially succeeded inhitting a military target near Lahore, injuring four soldiers.
On the Indian side, officials confirmed using drones to degrade Pakistaniair defense systems, though details and numbers were not disclosed. Haropdrones are understood to have played a key Suppression of Enemy AirDefenses (SEAD) role.——————————*Israeli Support: Operators, Supply, Doctrine*
While India and Israel both refrained from officially describing any directbattlefield cooperation beyond procurement, Pakistani analysts and mediasources asserted that *Israel provided not just hardware but operationalexpertise, including drone operators and tactical doctrine*. One expertclaimed India replicated Israel’s Gaza‑style drone warfaremethodologies—suggesting Israeli personnel and doctrine were involvedindirectly.
Israeli media and security analysts confirmed that India deployed Harop andHeron Mark‑2 drones, reinforcing the strategic depth of India–Israeldefense partnerships.——————————*India–Israel Defense Collaboration*
India has been a major purchaser of Israeli drone systems:
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The Indian military acquired *at least 25 Harop drones between 2009 and 2019*, purchasing platforms like Searcher, Heron, and more Harops later. Deals reportedly included joint manufacturing components under “Make in India.” –
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India also imported *SkyStriker loitering munitions* from Elbit Systems, some manufactured locally under technology‑transfer agreements. –
The broader collaboration includes joint development and local production of *Barak‑8 missiles*, radars, drones (Hermes, Heron), and other systems, often under multi‑billion dollar industrial ties.
——————————*Strategic & Political Significance*
This marks a historic escalation in South Asia: analysts have described itas the *first drone warfare between two nuclear-armed rivals*, with Haropdrones deployed deep into Pakistani airspace, targeting militaryinfrastructure.
From Pakistan’s perspective, the use of Israeli drones not only escalatesthe battlefield asymmetry but raises *geopolitical concerns* about Israel’sindirect role in South Asian conflict, extending military technology anddoctrine beyond its regional sphere.——————————*Aftermath: Self‑Reliance and Drone Industry Response*
In response to the conflict and heavy drone use, India announced a*$234 millionincentive programme* to boost domestic drone manufacturing, aiming for 40%indigenous production of key components by fiscal year 2028. This builds onearlier initiatives and represents part of a broader $470 million defenseinvestment plan.
Indian defense experts and policymakers emphasized the urgency of reducingreliance on imported Israeli, Chinese, and Turkish technology throughhomegrown systems like the *Nagastra‑1*, India’s first indigenous loiteringmunition fielded by 2024.