SOURCE: AFI
India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, marked a turning point in modern warfare, showcasing the pivotal role of indigenous drone technology in neutralizing terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The operation, which targeted nine terror camps with precision strikes, provided an unprecedented opportunity for India’s burgeoning drone startup ecosystem to test their kamikaze and surveillance drones in real-world combat conditions against Pakistan. Notably, several of these drones were not yet formally inducted into the Indian Armed Forces (IAF), but their battlefield deployment allowed the military to evaluate their performance and enabled manufacturers to refine systems before full-scale production and induction. This historic operation underscored India’s growing self-reliance in defense technology, driven by innovative startups and supportive policies like the Drone Rules 2021 and Drone Shakti Mission 2022.
Operation Sindoor, executed from May 7–10, 2025, was a decisive response to the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Armed Forces, leveraging a multi-layered air defense network and advanced unmanned systems, conducted precision strikes on terror bases linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in locations like Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Muzaffarabad. The operation resulted in the elimination of approximately 100 terrorists, including high-profile figures like Abdul Rauf Azhar, without targeting Pakistani military installations to avoid escalation.
The operation’s success hinged on the deployment of a diverse unmanned aerial system (UAS) inventory, including kamikaze (loitering munitions) and surveillance drones, many of which were developed by Indian startups. These platforms, supported by real-time intelligence from the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellites, demonstrated India’s ability to dominate the battlespace through autonomous warfare. The operation also exposed the limitations of Pakistan’s Chinese and Turkish-supplied drones, such as the Bayraktar TB2 and CH-4, which were overwhelmed by India’s air defense systems, including the S-400, Akash, and Barak-8.
Operation Sindoor served as a real-world testing ground for India’s drone startups, many of which have emerged as key players under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. The Drone Rules 2021 and Drone Shakti Mission 2022, coupled with the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme notified on September 30, 2021, with ?120 crore in incentives, catalyzed rapid innovation in the drone sector. These policies encouraged public-private partnerships, enabling startups and MSMEs to develop cutting-edge kamikaze and surveillance drones with indigenous navigation and AI capabilities.
Several startups seized the opportunity to deploy their systems during Operation Sindoor, even those not yet formally inducted into the Indian Armed Forces. This combat evaluation allowed the Army and Air Force to assess performance under real-world conditions, while manufacturers gained critical feedback to fine-tune their designs. Key systems included:
- SkyStriker (Alpha Design Technologies/Adani Group): Co-developed with Israel’s Elbit Systems, the SkyStriker kamikaze drone, produced in Bengaluru, made its combat debut during Operation Sindoor. Capable of carrying a 5–10 kg warhead over a 100 km range, it executed precision strikes on terror infrastructure with minimal collateral damage. The drone’s low acoustic signature and autonomous capabilities were critical in targeting sites like Noor Khan and Rahimyar Khan airbases. The Indian Army inducted 100 SkyStrikers in 2021, but Operation Sindoor provided a real-world stress test, validating its effectiveness in high-threat environments.
- Nagastra-1 (Solar Industries): This indigenous loitering munition, carrying a 1.5 kg explosive payload over a 15 km range, was confirmed by Solar Industries’ leadership to have been used in Operation Sindoor. Designed for real-time surveillance and precision strikes, Nagastra-1 targeted terrorist positions with pinpoint accuracy, leveraging NTRO data. Although inducted in limited numbers, its combat performance provided valuable insights for scaling production and enhancing endurance.
- JM-1 (Johnnette Technologies): A 100% Indian-designed kamikaze drone, the JM-1 made its combat debut during Operation Sindoor, becoming the first fully indigenous loitering munition to strike Pakistani targets. Its ability to loiter, identify, and destroy targets autonomously showcased India’s advancements in AI-driven warfare. The JM-1’s success, highlighted by defense journalist Shiv Aroor on X, underscored its potential for future induction.
- ALS-50 (Tata Advanced Systems Limited): This loitering munition, combat-proven in Operation Sindoor, demonstrated its capability to neutralize high-value targets. With a focus on precision and cost-effectiveness, the ALS-50’s performance against Pakistani radar and command centers validated TASL’s role as a trusted partner to the Indian Armed Forces. Posts on X praised its effectiveness, signaling strong potential for large-scale orders.
- Unspecified Prototypes: Several non-inducted drones from startups like NewSpace Research and Technologies and IG Drones were reportedly deployed for evaluation. These included surveillance drones with advanced ISR capabilities and kamikaze drones designed for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD). Their use in combat allowed the Army to assess performance against Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied HQ-9 air defense systems, which were jammed by Indian electronic warfare (EW) systems developed by DRDO and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
The deployment of non-inducted drones during Operation Sindoor was a strategic move by the Indian Armed Forces to evaluate emerging technologies in real-world conditions. Pakistan’s retaliatory Operation Bunyan al-Marsus, which involved 300–400 drones, including Turkish Bayraktar TB2s and Chinese CH-4 and Wing Loong II platforms, provided a dynamic testing environment. Indian air defenses, including the S-400, Akash, and upgraded L-70 guns, neutralized over 600 Pakistani drones, while Indian kamikaze drones overwhelmed Pakistan’s radar and command centers, exposing vulnerabilities in their Chinese and Turkish systems.
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