IAI Harop: The Game-Changing Drone behind India’s Operation Sindoor Success in the recent Indo-Pak conflict
This development came in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, launched by India on 7 May in retaliation for the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians, most of them tourists, were brutally killed by Pakistan-based terrorists.
Operation Sindoor targeted terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), using a range of advanced precision-strike systems. India employed one way attack drones.
Loitering Munitions (Kamikaze Drones)-IAI Harop
India employed one-way attack drones, which are designed to loiter over a target area and strike with precision upon identifying a target. These included the IAI Harop, which developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and is a loitering munition combining UAV and missile capabilities.
India reportedly used Harop drones during Operation Sindoor to target Pakistani air defense systems and radar sites.
The detail specification of IAI Harop
Type: Loitering munition that combines the characteristics of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a missile.
Manufacturer: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Purpose: Designed to suppress or destroy enemy air defences (SEAD) and other high-value, time-sensitive targets. It can be used against radar installations, command posts, and other military assets.
Operation: The Harop can loiter over a designated battlefield area for an extended period (reports suggest up to 7-9 hours), searching for targets using its electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) sensors. Once a target is identified and confirmed (either autonomously or by a “man-in-the-loop” operator), the drone dives into the target, detonating its warhead (around 20-23 kg). If no target is engaged, some variants can reportedly return and be recovered.
Range: Effective operational range is often cited as up to 200 km, though some sources mention a much longer standoff launch capability.
Key Features:
- Can operate in complex environments and is designed to be resistant to GNSS (satellite navigation) jamming.
- Launched from transportable canisters, which can be mounted on ground vehicles or naval vessels.
- Offers precision strike capabilities, minimizing collateral damage.
India reportedly used Harop drones during Operation Sindoor to target Pakistani air defense systems and radar sites