On 8th May, 2025; a number of air drones (Harop) were launched by India which violated Pakistan territory. As reported by DG ISPR, 25x drones were intercepted and neutralized by our Air Defense System, however, two fell very close to some sensitive areas. This created a negative impression amongst our public about such a capacity by India and weakness in our Air Defense System. It is essential to understand as to what these drones are and the extent to which the damage can be caused using the same and our capabilities to neutralize such drones.
It has stealth feature of Low radar cross-section (~0.5 m²) and is used against air defense systems, command posts, and supply depots. There is a difference between a drone and a missile; drone has flight duration of about 9 hours while the missile takes only seconds to a few minutes, Drone can be controlled via remote control or autonomous with human-in-loop whereas Missiles are pre-programmed, limited or no post-launch control.
The Harop Drones used by India are of Israeli Origin and are particularly known for their effectiveness in Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), as it can autonomously seek out and destroy radar systems. The Harop drone is of Loitering Munition type which has endurance up to 9 hours and range of 200 km approx. and has a capacity of carrying warhead high-explosives (16–23 kg) and can be launched via trucks, naval vessel, or aircraft.
Drone is used for surveillance, reconnaissance and loitering strike, while Missiles are used for rapid strikes, often on fixed or pre-identified targets. Harop can loiter, change targets midflight, or abort mission while a missile follows fixed path once launched.
As per international law, Drones weighing over 250 grams require a license from respective country’s CAA and are subject to stricter regulations. These are prohibited from flying within a 5 km radi us of sensitive military installations, airports, and certain government buildings — these areas are designated as no-fly zones. Moreover, the same 5 kms buffer zone rule applies near international borders.
Under the International Humanitarian Law, targeting civilian sites, as India did in Pakistan, is a grave violation. Loitering munitions, especially those with autonomous capabilities like the Harop, could potentially be classified as LAWS (Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems). Historically, the IAI Harop has been deployed in various conflict zones, including the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, where it was used to target enemy air defenses.
The same drones were also reportedly used in Syrian conflicts and are credited with the destruction of a Syrian Air Defence SA-22 Greyhound in 2018. Some say that the same are being used by Ukrainians against Russia in their recent war.
There are also indications that Turkiye may have been an early adopter of the Harop, potentially using it as early as 2005. With regard to capability of our Air Defense System, although difficult to trace low altitude drones but we do have a system where these can be traced/ tracked and neutralized when required, however there can be exceptions like Walton- Lahore, which may have been due to human error.
Precautions
People are generally unaware about use of such drone attacks. Some are mistaking drones for missiles. Such a situation may prevail for some time now, therefore we need to educate ourselves about the same and take necessary precautions as suggested below:
1. Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
• When you hear strange noises in the sky, take cover immediately
• Stay indoors and avoid going outside
• Avoid contact with unknown objects or areas.
2. What You Need to Know
• These drones are loitering munitions made in Israel known as Heron, Harpy, Harop
• They are difficult to detect and intercept
• They can cause significant damage and risk friendly casualties.
3. Reporting Incidents If you witness any incident, please report it with:
• Accurate video footage
• Date, time, and location of the incident
• Pictures (if possible)/ other related information.
4. Let’s Stay Safe and Vigilant
