SOURCE: AFI
In a bold and meticulously planned operation, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) executed Operation Spider’s Web on June 1, 2025, targeting Russian airbases deep within enemy territory. The operation, which involved over 117 first-person view (FPV) drones striking strategic military assets, has been hailed as a game-changer in drone warfare. Reacting to this audacious assault, Colonel Devesh Singh (retd), an Indian expert in ammunition, explosives, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), emphasized that India is actively preparing for future conflicts by developing advanced FPV drones, counter-drone systems, and air defense innovations to counter similar threats.
Operation Spider’s Web, planned over 18 months, saw Ukraine deploy FPV drones to strike five Russian airbases—Belaya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo Severny, Olenya, and Ukrainka—spanning multiple time zones, with some targets over 4,300 kilometers from Ukraine’s border. These drones, smuggled into Russia and concealed within wooden cabins mounted on trucks, were remotely launched to devastating effect, reportedly damaging or destroying over 40 Russian aircraft, including Tu-95, Tu-22M, and A-50 models. The operation’s success lay in its secrecy, precision, and innovative use of low-cost, high-speed FPV drones equipped with anti-tank payloads, which evaded Russian radar due to their small size and speed.
Colonel Singh, speaking to India Today TV, compared the operation to Israel’s covert pager attack on Hezbollah, highlighting its strategic brilliance. “The attack by Ukraine was a meticulously planned operation. Ukraine used FPV drones, which are low-cost and high-speed, concealed in the ceiling of trucks. Some deep assets of Ukrainian intelligence agencies were definitely operating close to the Russian airbases,” he said. He noted that the drones likely used optical fiber technology, extending their range to 18–20 kilometers while remaining undetected by Russian air defenses.
The Ukrainian operation has underscored the transformative potential of drones in modern warfare, prompting nations worldwide, including India, to reassess their defense strategies. Colonel Singh highlighted India’s proactive efforts to bolster its capabilities in FPV drones and counter-drone technologies. “This is the biggest attack by Ukraine so far, and after Operation Sindoor, India is also working on improvised Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other air defense systems to remain better prepared for futuristic wars,” he stated.
India’s military has made significant strides in developing indigenous FPV drones. In August 2024, the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh, successfully tested its first FPV drone equipped with a kamikaze-role anti-tank munition. Featuring a dual-safety mechanism and live feedback relay system, these drones, costing approximately ?1.4 lakh each, have been inducted into service, with plans to add 95 more by March 2025. The Rising Star Drone Battle School has already produced over 100 such drones, showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in UAV technology.
To counter the rising threat of hostile drones, India is investing in advanced systems like the Bhargavastra Micro-Missile System and the Indrajaal Autonomous Drone Defence Dome. The Bhargavastra, developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, employs lightweight missiles to neutralize loitering munitions and autonomous swarm drones. Meanwhile, the AI-powered Indrajaal, developed by Grene Robotics, can detect and neutralize various drone threats, including silent and nocturnal ones, even in challenging terrains. These systems reflect India’s strategic shift to address the evolving challenges of drone warfare.
Colonel Singh emphasized that the success of Operation Spider’s Web hinged on Ukraine’s ability to maintain secrecy while leveraging human intelligence, innovation, and technology. The operation’s coordination from an “office” near Russia’s FSB headquarters in Chelyabinsk, as revealed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, highlighted the critical role of covert operations in modern conflicts.
India has taken note of these tactics, conducting mock drills simulating aerial and drone attacks across regions like Rajasthan to enhance emergency response capabilities. These exercises, involving civil defense and State Disaster Response Force teams, focus on evacuation protocols and blackout scenarios to prepare for potential drone-based threats.
Ukraine’s operation has sent shockwaves through military circles, exposing vulnerabilities in traditional air defense systems and highlighting the cost-effectiveness of FPV drones. The attack, which caused an estimated $7 billion in damage to Russia’s strategic aviation, targeted aircraft critical to Moscow’s long-range missile strikes, potentially weakening its air superiority. The Institute for the Study of War noted that Russia’s capacity to launch long-range missiles may be temporarily constrained, with some damaged aircraft, like the Tupolev bombers, irreplaceable due to discontinued production.
For India, the operation serves as a wake-up call to prioritize drone and counter-drone technologies. As Colonel Singh pointed out, the ability of small, inexpensive drones to strike high-value targets thousands of kilometers away underscores the need for robust, multi-layered air defenses. India’s investments in systems like Bhargavastra and Indrajaal, combined with its indigenous FPV drone program, position it to adapt to the evolving nature of warfare.
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