In a major step forward for indigenous defense capabilities, India deployed its home-grown SkyStriker loitering munitions, also known as “suicide drones,” during Operation Sindoor—a series of targeted strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), sources confirmed.
These advanced drones were used alongside precision-guided Scalp cruise missiles and French-made HAMMER bombs, forming a lethal triad in India’s strike package. This marked the first operational use of the SkyStriker by the Indian Army in forward zones along the Jammu and Kashmir border.
Co-developed by Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies Limited (ADTL) and Israel’s Elbit Systems, the SkyStriker UAVs are designed for high-precision, direct-impact missions. Armed with a 5-kilogram warhead, each drone can loiter in the air, identify a target, and carry out pinpoint strikes up to a range of 100 kilometers.
These drones were acquired under a 2021 contract that added 100 units to India’s unmanned aerial arsenal. According to sources, the SkyStrikers proved instrumental in neutralizing terror camps and launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC). Their effectiveness lies in their cost-efficiency and agility, particularly in missions requiring surgical precision and real-time response.
Designed for “search-and-destroy” roles, SkyStrikers offer a new edge in asymmetric warfare, especially against hidden or moving threats such as enemy radars, drone bases, and terrorist hideouts. These kamikaze drones self-destruct upon impact, eliminating the need for retrieval and minimizing risk to human forces.
Military analysts note that the inclusion of such drones adds a new strategic layer to India’s defense doctrine, particularly in counter-terrorism and cross-border operations. Their ability to loiter over an area before striking allows for flexible targeting and minimal collateral damage—an advantage over traditional airstrikes.
The successful deployment of SkyStrikers signals a growing emphasis on indigenous innovation and real-time strike capability within the Indian defense sector, particularly as threats along the border continue to evolve.
India’s use of these loitering munitions reflects a shift toward tech-enhanced, unmanned solutions that blend domestic development with international collaboration, paving the way for future combat-readiness.
