Game of Drones: How UAVs became the real game-changers in India-Pakistan conflict

In the recent cross-border hostilities between India and Pakistan, the battlefield witnessed a dramatic shift. This time, the tanks or fighter jets that took centrestage – it was unmanned aerial vehicles. They emerged not just as tools of war, but as the war itself. For the first time, drones became the face of modern warfare in the subcontinent, playing decisive roles in surveillance, strikes and countermeasures.

Indian forces deployed an arsenal of advanced unmanned systems, including Israeli-made Harop loitering munitions and the SkyStriker—produced through a joint venture between Israel’s Elbit Systems and India’s Adani-owned Alpha Design Technologies. On the other side, Pakistan fielded Turkish-origin SONGAR drones and the lesser-known Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones, which were neutralised by India’s defence system, powered by the Russian-made S-400 Triumf and Akash missile system.

As the dust settles, a clear pattern emerges: India’s drone capabilities not only outnumbered but outperformed Pakistan’s, reaffirming New Delhi’s strategic edge in next-generation warfare.

India’s drone fleet – Imported tech, indigenous innovation

A notable aspect of Operation Sindoor was the deployment of loitering munitions, also known as ‘suicide drones’, by the Indian armed forces to target terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes focused on dismantling terrorist infrastructure, including JeM’s base in Bahawalpur and LeT’s hub in Muridke.

These weapons – often called suicide drones, kamikaze drones, or exploding drones – were part of the precision strike weapon system used by the Indian forces. Satellite images shown by the Indian forces offered before-and-after views of key targets, notably in Muridke and Bahawalpur, and also highlighted the damage inflicted on Pakistan’s air defence radars and airfields. Over 100 terrorists were killed in the precision strikes, highlighting the impact of these loitering munitions.

Unconfirmed reports also suggest that India used SkyStriker suicide drones to hit terror targets in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Bengaluru-headquartered Alpha Design Technologies, which was acquired by Adani Defence Systems and Technologies in 2018, makes SkyStriker in partnership with Israel’s Elbit Systems.

Pakistan’s dependence on Turkish and Chinese drones

Pakistan’s countermeasure came swiftly in the form of a massive drone and missile attack. For three consecutive nights following India’s precision strikes, military bases in Jammu, Udhampur, Pathankot, Bathinda, and civilian areas in Punjab and Rajasthan. The Indian Army said on the intervening night of May 8-9 Pakistan launched a barrage of 300-400 Turkish attack drones, known as Turkish-made Asisguard Songar drones.

India mounted a swift and effective defence. Utilizing its layered air defence capabilities—comprising Akash missiles, L70 anti-aircraft guns, and possibly the S-400 system—the Indian Armed Forces intercepted and neutralized all incoming threats. Consequently, no casualties were reported, although fragments from intercepted drones were recovered across multiple states.

Reports suggest that Pakistan also used Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones. Photos confirmed use of these Chinese-origin attack drones, which were neutralised in Amritsar and other cities.

India’s edge in numbers

India was the world’s top arms importer for the period 2019-23 with imports having gone up by 4.7% compared to the period 2014-18, according to the Swedish think tank, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Between 1985 and 2014, India accounted for the largest share (22.5%) of global UAV imports. The majority of these drone imports have been from Israel.

India has imported significant numbers of Heron I and Searcher Mk II drones from Israel for reconnaissance, surveillance, and other missions. India has also imported Harop loitering munitions from Israel.

While New Delhi has been a leading importer, there was a decrease of 9.3% in India's overall arms imports between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024. This decrease is attributed by SIPRI to India's growing domestic arms manufacturing capabilities and shifts in defense procurement policies.

Despite the decrease, India remained the second-largest arms importer globally in the period 2020-2024, accounting for 8.3% of global arms imports. While Russia remains a major arms supplier overall, India has been increasingly diversifying its sources towards Western suppliers, including Israel. Israel accounted for a significant portion (34%) of Israeli arms exports to India during 2020-2024.

Contrary to the perception that India's combat drone numbers are "modest," a recent $4 billion agreement to procure 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from the US signifies a major leap forward in its strike capabilities. These powerful UAVs offer an exceptional 40-hour endurance and a maximum operating altitude of 40,000ft.

DRDO's Drone Push: Indigenous Manufacturing Takes Flight

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has significantly ramped up its focus on indigenous design, development, and manufacturing of drones, aligning with the "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiatives. This push aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and enhance the operational readiness of the Indian Armed Forces. DRDO collaborates with private sector players, including start-ups and MSMEs, to foster innovation and production.

Rustom Series (including TAPAS-BH-201): Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) roles with enhanced endurance and payload capabilities.

Nishant: A multi-mission UAV with day/night capabilities for battlefield surveillance, reconnaissance, target tracking, and artillery fire correction.

Lakshya: A cost-effective, reusable high subsonic aerial target system used for training and weapon testing.

Micro and Mini UAVs: Developed for short-range surveillance and reconnaissance, including platforms like Black Kite, Golden Hawk, Pushpak, Imperial Eagle, and Slybird.

Loitering Munitions: DRDO is actively developing "kamikaze drones" capable of striking high-value targets with precision.

Counter-Drone Systems: Recognizing the increasing threat from rogue drones, DRDO has developed integrated anti-drone systems like the D4 system for detection, jamming, and neutralization.

Pakistan’s Drone Imports

China has become the dominant supplier of arms to Pakistan, accounting for 81% of Pakistan's total arms imports during 2020-2024. This is an increase from 74% in the 2015-2019 period. Pakistan's overall arms imports increased by 61% between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024. During the period of 2020-2024, SIPRI data indicates that Pakistan received ten CH-4A drones from China.

SIPRI experts note that China is effectively Pakistan's "only real ally" in military matters, and this strong defence relationship includes the supply of drones.

Islamabad has also reportedly expressed strong interest and has likely acquired Bayraktar TB2 armed drones from Turkey. These tactical UCAVs have demonstrated effectiveness in conflicts and can deceive some modern air defence systems.

India's Counter-Drone Superiority

India's DRDO D4 system proved highly successful in detecting, deterring, and destroying Pakistani drones. This multi-sensor system uses radar, RF detection, and electro-optic identification, employing soft kill (jamming, GPS spoofing) and hard kill (laser weapons) methods.

The existing layered air defense, including Akash missiles and L70 anti-aircraft guns, also played a crucial role in intercepting threats. The potential use of the S-400 system further strengthens this.

While Pakistan initiated a large-scale drone offensive utilizing a variety of platforms, India's robust and effective anti-drone systems and retaliatory capabilities resulted in a significant outperformance. India successfully neutralized most of the incoming threats and even used its drones to strike back effectively. This highlights India's superior technology and preparedness in countering drone warfare in this specific conflict.

Why Drones Dominated the Conflict?

In an era where conventional warfare is rapidly giving way to precision-based, technology-led engagements, drones have emerged as the vanguard of military strategy — and the recent India-Pakistan conflict was a testament to that shift. Unlike previous standoffs where artillery shelling, fighter jet dogfights, or ground troop movements defined the tempo, this latest flare-up was marked by the silent but lethal hum of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Why did drones dominate this conflict? The answer lies in a mix of geography, risk calculus, and tactical advantage. Both India and Pakistan understand the catastrophic consequences of full-scale war between two nuclear-armed neighbours. This makes drones an ideal option: they are precise, cost-effective, and crucially, do not endanger human lives directly. Drones allow states to signal strength, test air defences, and carry out strategic targeting without escalating to full-blown war.

The utility of drones also lies in their psychological impact. Their persistent presence in the skies acts as a deterrent. Moreover, drones gather crucial intelligence that aids future targeting and real-time battlefield assessment. From border surveillance to surgical strikes, drones ensured that this round of hostilities remained confined to limited escalations without compromising tactical success.

This dominance marks a paradigm shift in how subcontinental military strategy is evolving. It’s no longer just boots on the ground — it's bots in the air.