SOURCE: AFI
In a remarkable display of precision and skill, the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) elite Garud Commando snipers played a pivotal role in countering Turkish-supplied drones during the recent military escalation between India and Pakistan, known as Operation Sindoor. This conflict, which erupted in early May 2025 following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, marked a significant evolution in South Asian warfare, with drones emerging as a central element of Pakistan’s offensive strategy. The Garud Commandos, renowned for their specialized training and adaptability, proved instrumental in neutralizing this aerial threat, showcasing India’s robust counter-drone capabilities.
The conflict was triggered by a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which India attributed to Pakistan-backed terrorist groups. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, a sophisticated operation involving missiles, drones, and airstrikes targeting terrorist bases and military infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan retaliated with a large-scale drone and missile assault, deploying an estimated 300–400 Turkish-origin drones, including Baykar YIHA III, Asisguard Songar, and Bayraktar TB2 models, alongside Chinese-supplied PL-15 missiles. These drones targeted 36 military installations across Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab, including a notable attempt to strike the Golden Temple in Amritsar on the night of May 7–8, 2025.
Pakistan’s use of Turkish drones, supported by Turkish military advisors and operators, introduced a new dynamic to the India-Pakistan conflict. According to sources, Turkey supplied over 350 drones and provided tactical coordination, with two Turkish operatives reportedly killed during India’s precision strikes. The deployment of these drones, including kamikaze and armed surveillance models like the Songar, which carries a 5.56mm machine gun, aimed to overwhelm India’s air defenses and target both military and civilian infrastructure.
Amid this unprecedented drone warfare, the IAF’s Garud Commando Force emerged as a critical asset in India’s multi-layered air defense strategy. The Garuds, a special forces unit established in 2004, are trained for high-stakes operations, including counter-terrorism, airfield seizure, and special reconnaissance. Their snipers, equipped with advanced weaponry and trained in precision targeting, were uniquely positioned to counter the low-flying, agile drones deployed by Pakistan.
Reports from the conflict indicate that Garud Commando snipers were deployed at key locations along the western front, particularly in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, where Pakistani drones were most active. These snipers, leveraging their expertise in long-range marksmanship and advanced optics, successfully intercepted multiple drones during Operation Sindoor. Their role complemented India’s broader air defense network, which included the indigenous Akashteer system, the DRDO-developed D4S (Drone Detect, Deter, and Destroy System), and the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS).
Taking down drones with sniper fire is a highly specialized task requiring exceptional skill and coordination. Pakistani drones, such as the Songar and YIHA III, are designed for low-altitude operations, often flying at heights that make them difficult targets for conventional air defense systems like missiles or radar-guided guns. The Garud snipers, armed with high-precision rifles such as the Sako TRG-42 or the Beretta ARX-160 fitted with advanced thermal and night-vision scopes, were able to engage these drones at close range, particularly during night operations when many of Pakistan’s drone incursions occurred.
The snipers’ ability to neutralize drones was critical in scenarios where electronic countermeasures, such as jamming, were less effective due to the drones’ autonomous navigation systems. By targeting critical components like the drone’s sensors or propulsion systems, the Garuds ensured rapid neutralization, preventing potential damage to military and civilian targets. Posts on X highlighted the effectiveness of these operations, with one user noting that “IAF GARUD Snipers also intercepted multiple drones, during operation Sindoor,” underscoring their impact on the battlefield.
While the Garud snipers played a crucial role, their efforts were part of a broader, integrated defense strategy. India’s Akashteer system, developed by Bharat Electronics Limited, provided real-time aerial surveillance and coordinated responses across multiple nodes. The IAF’s IACCS synchronized data from radars, ground-based sensors, and air defense units, enabling rapid identification and tracking of incoming drones. The DRDO’s D4S system, a multi-sensor platform, further enhanced India’s ability to detect and destroy small drones.
During the conflict, India’s air defense network neutralized over 600 Pakistani drones, including Turkish models like the Byker YIHA III and Asisguard Songar, as well as Chinese-supplied PL-15 missiles. The Indian Army displayed debris from these intercepted drones, confirming their foreign origins. The Garud snipers’ ground-level interventions complemented these high-tech systems, particularly in areas where drones flew below radar coverage or in urban environments like Amritsar, where precision was paramount to avoid collateral damage.
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