SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a significant development amid the escalating India-Pakistan conflict, debris from a Python-5 seeker head was discovered in Lsrwal village, Jalandhar, Punjab, at 5:00 AM today, confirming India’s first use of the missile system in the ongoing hostilities. The Python-5, part of India’s SPYDER air defense system, was reportedly deployed to neutralize heavy Pakistani drones, marking a pivotal moment in the conflict that has intensified since India’s Operation Sindoor began on May 7.
Posts on X reported that a near-intact Python-5 seeker head, used by the Indian Air Force (IAF), was found in Lsrwal village, Jalandhar, following an interception early this morning. The missile, which fell after engaging its target, is part of the SPYDER (Surface-to-air Python and Derby) air defense system, a quick-reaction, low-level surface-to-air missile system designed to counter aircraft, helicopters, drones, and precision-guided munitions. This incident confirms the Indian military’s active deployment of the SPYDER system to thwart Pakistani aerial threats in the region.
Jalandhar, a city of nearly 900,000 people in Punjab, has been on high alert due to the ongoing conflict. The discovery of the debris follows reports of multiple Pakistani drone sightings and explosion-like sounds across Punjab’s border districts, including Amritsar, Ferozepur, and Tarn Taran, early Saturday morning. The Indian Army’s Air Defence (AAD) network swiftly engaged and destroyed several Pakistani Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones over Amritsar’s Khasa Cantt at around 5:00 AM, with debris from a downed drone also found in Jalandhar’s Kanganiwal village.
The SPYDER system, procured from Israel, is a critical component of India’s multi-layered air defense grid, designed to protect fixed assets and mobile forces in combat zones. It uses the Python-5 and Derby missiles, which are also deployed in air-to-air roles by IAF fighter jets like the Rafale. The Python-5, with a range of 8–10 km, is equipped with an infrared seeker and advanced electro-optical imaging, making it highly effective against low-flying threats like drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A typical SPYDER battery includes a command and control unit, six missile firing units, and a resupply vehicle, supported by the EL/M-2106 ATAR radar for the short-range variant (SPYDER-SR).
The deployment of the Python-5 in this conflict marks its first confirmed use against Pakistani drones, specifically the heavy Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones, which Pakistan has been using to target Indian military and civilian areas. The Indian Army reported that these drones carried high-explosive payloads intended to inflict maximum damage on civilian populations, a tactic that has drawn sharp criticism from Indian officials. The successful interception of these drones underscores the SPYDER system’s effectiveness in countering such threats, particularly in densely populated areas like Punjab.
NOTE : Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes. Websites doing illegal reproductions will get DMCA and Legal Notices.