Operation Sindoor: 10 points to know about LMS 'kamikaze' drone used for military strike

LMS drones can loiter in the skies for prolonged periods while tracking potential targets. Once a target is identified, the drone dives into it, detonating on impact. (Representational image)

A key component of the success of Operation Sindoor as a swift and resolute response by the Indian Armed Forces against terrorist bases in Pakistan was the use of drones. The Indian forces used LMS drone, also known as a suicide or kamikaze drone to successfully struck nine locations, five in PoK and four deep inside Pakistan, killing several terrorists and top terror commanders, as well as family members of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar.

Here are 10 things to know about the LMS ‘kamikaze’ drones:

1.)  Officially referred to as the Low-Cost Miniature Swarm Drone or Loitering Munition System (LMS), this advanced platform is designed to seek, identify, and destroy targets through self-detonation.

2.) LMS drones can loiter in the skies for prolonged periods while tracking potential targets. Once a target is identified, the drone dives into it, detonating on impact.

3.) These drones are especially effective against high-value assets such as weapons caches, radar installations, command centres, and terrorist bunkers.

4.) When deployed in swarms, LMS drones overwhelm enemy air defences by attacking from multiple directions simultaneously.

5.) Developed indigenously through a collaboration between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and private firms such as NewSpace Research and Technologies, LMS drones represent a cost-effective yet lethal alternative to conventional missiles.

6.) Unlike high-cost missiles such as the Harpoon, LMS drones are compact and economical, yet they carry sufficient explosive payloads to cause extensive damage.

7.) They are equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging sensors, and GPS-guided navigation. Some advanced models even integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance real-time decision-making and precision targeting.

8.) During Operation Sindoor, real-time data from the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) enabled the drones to lock onto terrorist positions with pinpoint accuracy.

9.) LMS, or suicide drones, were first employed in the 1980s to deliver explosive payloads, primarily for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD). By the 1990s, numerous armed forces around the world had begun incorporating these drones into their system for a variety of combat roles.

10.) In current operations, LMS drones are deployed in both short-range tactical engagements and long-range strategic missions, thanks to their compact size, speed of up to 50 miles per hour, and ease of deployment.

(With inputs from PTI)