Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday announced it had successfully intercepted and downed 25 Indian drones across multiple cities, revealing that the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were Israeli-made Harop loitering munitions. This marks the first known successful neutralisation of the Harop drone system anywhere in the world.
According to military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the drones were shot down over Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Karachi, Chor, Miano, and Attock. He stated the international community now has clear evidence of India’s provocative military posture, which, he said, threatens not just regional but global peace and stability.
The drone intrusion follows a deadly escalation in which 31 Pakistanis were killed and 57 injured in Indian strikes on Pakistani territory and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In response, Pakistan’s air defence forces engaged and neutralised the UAVs, which were operating at high altitudes.
The Harop, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, is a sophisticated loitering munition. It is capable of autonomous flight at up to 35,000 feet and can destroy targets by crashing into them upon command. The drone is equipped with advanced sensors including electro-optical, infrared, FLIR, and a colour CCD camera, enabling real-time target detection and precision strikes.
One of the drones recovered had its engine intact, bearing markings of UK-based UAV Engines Ltd, confirming its origin. These drones are designed to evade radar detection and are resistant to satellite navigation (GNSS) jamming, making their interception a significant technical achievement.
Launched from mobile canisters on land or sea, the Harop can loiter over a battlefield for up to nine hours, identifying and pursuing targets with pinpoint accuracy. If no target is found, the drone can return to its base.
Pakistan’s interception of the Harop system has drawn attention from defence analysts worldwide, as it demonstrates a capability to counter high-end drone warfare previously thought nearly invulnerable. Islamabad has called for international condemnation of India's actions and urged restraint to avoid further escalation.
