Tech
Indian Army Drone Revolution: From Surveillance to Precision Strikes
New Delhi, May 12, 2025 – Drones have transformed the Indian Army’s playbook, evolving from quiet sentinels to lethal strike forces in Operation Sindoor. With cutting-edge systems, India has built a formidable drone warfare ecosystem that’s reshaping modern combat. Here’s how unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are redefining the battlefield.
India’s Drone Arsenal
The Indian Army wields a mix of imported and indigenous drones, each tailored for specific roles, per the Ministry of Defence:
- Surveillance & Reconnaissance:
- Heron MK-II (Israel): With a 3,000 km range, these drones monitor the Line of Control and guide artillery, stationed at northern bases, per Business Today. They’ve been pivotal since their 2023 induction.
- SWITCH UAV (Indigenous): Developed locally, these drones excel in border surveillance, boosting India’s self-reliance, per Eurasia Review.
- Combat Drones:
- Harop Loitering Munitions (Israel): Packing a 23 kg warhead and 185 km/h speed, Harop drones target radar systems with nine-hour endurance, per Indian Express. They shone in Operation Sindoor’s precision strikes.
- SkyStriker (Indigenous/Israel): Built by Bengaluru’s Alpha Design with Elbit Systems, these “suicide drones” hit targets with 5–10 kg warheads, debuted in Sindoor, per Firstpost.
- Swarm Drones:
- NewSpace Swarm Drones: Developed with Hindustan Aeronautics, these drones showed promise in Ladakh’s Him-Drone trials (September 2024), enabling coordinated attacks, per IAS Gyan.
How Drones Changed the Game
In 2019’s Balakot strike, manned jets led the charge. Fast-forward to Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, and drones like Harop and SkyStriker joined Mirage jets to hit nine terror camps (Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba) in Pakistan and PoJK, killing over 100 terrorists, per PIB. This shift underscores a new era of unmanned precision, minimizing risks to pilots while maximizing impact.
On May 8, Pakistan’s retaliatory drone swarm—over 50 units targeting Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur—was neutralized by India’s S-400 systems and counter-UAS grid, showcasing robust defense, per India Today.
Operation Sindoor: A Drone-Powered Triumph
Launched after the April 22 Pahalgam attack (26 civilian deaths), Operation Sindoor targeted terror hubs in Bahawalpur and Muridke, using Harop drones to destroy a Lahore air defense system, per MoD. SkyStriker drones, with their quiet propulsion, struck with pinpoint accuracy, marking their combat debut, per Firstpost. Heron MK-II drones provided real-time surveillance, ensuring zero civilian casualties, per PIB.
The Road Ahead
India’s drone ambitions are soaring. The DRDO’s TAPAS-BH, with 18-hour endurance, is under evaluation for surveillance roles, per Wikipedia. NewSpace’s swarm drones, tested in high-altitude Ladakh, promise coordinated strikes, per Eurasia Review. While hypersonic drone projects are in early stages, DRDO’s focus on AI and indigenous tech aims to bridge gaps with rivals like China, per MoD.
With over 100 UAVs, including 49 Heron units, and plans for 5,000 more by 2035, India’s drone revolution is just beginning, per Warpower India. Operation Sindoor proved UAVs are no longer just eyes in the sky—they’re game-changers.
