NEW DELHI: Indian armed forces reportedly deployed Israeli-origin Harop drones to carry out precision strikes on air defence systems in Pakistan as part of their ongoing ‘Operation Sindoor‘.One of the key targets, Pakistan’s air defence installation in Lahore, was neutralised by India’s drone action.The strikes comes in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, in which 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists.
What are Harop drones?
Harop drones, known for their radar-seeking capabilities, were used to attack multiple strategic locations across Pakistan.The Harop, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is a loitering munition – a cross between a drone and a missile – capable of independently identifying and destroying high-value targets, particularly radar systems and air defence platforms. According to the Military Balance report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Harop is a part of India’s growing arsenal of unmanned precision-strike capabilities.Designed for deep precision attacks, the Harop can loiter over target zones for up to nine hours using an electro-optic seeker to locate, identify, and strike from multiple angles. Its immunity to satellite jamming (GNSS) and real-time human oversight give it both autonomy and flexibility in complex battlefield environments.The drones are launched from canister-based systems mounted on mobile ground vehicles or naval platforms, making them deployable across diverse terrains and suitable for fast, targeted strikes.India’s use of the Harop in ‘Operation Sindoor’ is a clear signal that it is aiming to not only eliminate terror infrastructure but also degrade Pakistan’s defensive capabilities to prevent further incursions.
