Drones sent by India and downed by Pakistan were Israeli-made Harop
The Pakistani military said on Thursday that it has neutralised 25 Indian drones over multiple cities, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Karachi, Chor, Miano, and Attock.
The chief military spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed the development and said the international community can clearly witness the dangerous trajectory New Delhi is following through these provocative military actions, which imperil regional and world peace and stability.
India flew the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) after receiving a drubbing during its military misadventure against Pakistan in which 31 Pakistanis were martyred and 57 others wounded in multiple cities in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The drones flown by India were identified as Israeli-made Harop, which are high-altitude surveillance UAVs capable of flying at up to 35,000 feet, beyond the range of most standard anti-aircraft guns. The engine, produced by UK-based UAV Engines Ltd, was recovered intact with visible manufacturer markings. This marks the first successful interception of this Israeli drone model globally.
What is Harop?
According to a Times of Israel report, the Harop, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries, is a loitering munition that can fly to targets and then attack by crashing into them on command from the operator, destroying itself in the process.
The Harop is equipped with electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR), and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors, as well as a colour CCD camera and anti-radar homing capabilities, providing target detection and identification, says a Eurasian Times report.
It further states that Harop can seek targets in a designated area for nine hours, locate and identify them, plan an attack route, and then pursue the strike from any direction at shallow or steep dive angles. Due to its immunity to GNSS jamming, Harop overcomes communication challenges.
Launched from canisters mounted on trucks or naval vessels, Harop is easily deployed from diverse terrains and environments. The drone will return to the base if a target is not engaged. It has been designed to minimise its radar signature through stealth (low observability).
Why India used Harop?
According to Pakistani security sources, the Indian Air Force might be hesitant to launch further manned air missions after losing five of its warplanes in the air combat with PAF on the night between May 6 and 7.
They further claimed that India is trying to divert attention from its military setbacks with such provocative actions to appease the domestic audience. The military said that it remains on high alert, responding to each act of aggression with a “firm and proportionate” approach.
It was a huge embarrassment for India when it launched a missile strike on Pakistan but lost five of its jets, including three modern Rafale aircraft, in air combat during the retaliation from PAF.
New Delhi hasn’t officially confirmed the downing of Rafale jets. However, a senior French intelligence official confirmed to CNN that one Rafale jet had indeed been shot down by Pakistan, marking the first time one of these advanced French aircraft had been lost in combat.
An American commentator on CNN remarked that the potential loss of Rafale jets would deal a significant blow to India’s claim of air superiority, which it had built around the induction of these French-made warplanes.
Some experts suggested that the confrontation between the two countries served as a test of both Chinese and Western military technologies, particularly after Pakistan’s acquisition of J-10C jets from China in response to India’s Rafale fleet.
Analysts have noted that China’s J-10C jets, which Pakistan acquired after India’s Rafale induction, are proving to be highly effective, potentially shifting the regional balance of power.