SOURCE: AFI
On April 23, 2025, a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed 26 lives, marking a significant escalation in cross-border terrorism. Amid questions about the Indian military’s response, defense analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra (@Iyervval ) provided a detailed account on X of how an unarmed Israeli-made Heron drone (registration 4XUMI) played a pivotal role in the rapid response to the attack. Coupled with coordinated ground operations, the drone’s swift deployment underscores India’s evolving counter-terrorism capabilities, despite challenging terrain and operational constraints.
The attack began at 14:50 on April 23, targeting tourists in Pahalgam, a popular destination in Jammu and Kashmir. Iyer-Mitra notes that an unarmed Heron drone, already on a mission 200 km away, was diverted within 15 minutes to the attack site. Flying at a speed of 270 kmph, the drone reached the area by 15:30, just 40 minutes after the attack commenced. Equipped with advanced sensors, including heat signature detectors, it began intensively scanning the area to locate the terrorists.
The attack site, surrounded by dense foliage, posed significant challenges. Thick vegetation obscured visual identification, requiring the Heron to perform multiple loops to track the terrorists using both line-of-sight and thermal imaging. Despite these obstacles, the drone’s real-time intelligence was critical in guiding ground forces and preventing a higher casualty toll.
The Heron, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) widely used by the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. Capable of operating at altitudes up to 30,000 feet and loitering for over 30 hours, it is equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and heat signature detectors. These systems enable it to detect and track targets in challenging environments, such as the forested terrain of Pahalgam.
Iyer-Mitra’s post specifies that the Heron (registration 4XUMI) was unarmed, consistent with India’s use of the platform primarily for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Its ability to cover 200 km in approximately 45 minutes (factoring in vectoring time) highlights its rapid response capability. The drone’s sensors, particularly the heat signature detectors, were crucial in identifying terrorists hidden in dense foliage, where visual line-of-sight was limited.
The ground response, while rapid, faced logistical challenges. The attack site was accessible only via a kaccha (unpaved) road, 5.5 km from the nearest motorable main road, requiring 30 minutes of travel time. Iyer-Mitra emphasizes that the total ground force arrival time was approximately 50 minutes from the attack’s onset, an “extremely swift” response by global standards.
The response followed strict protocols to avoid an ambush, a common tactic in Jammu and Kashmir’s volatile environment. The Heron drone played a critical role in ensuring the area was secure, scanning for hidden terrorists or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the forest. Only after sufficient forces were concentrated—ensuring overwhelming firepower—did troops engage the terrorists. This disciplined approach, guided by real-time drone intelligence, prevented a hasty response that could have led to higher casualties or tactical errors.
The Pahalgam attack, attributed to Pakistan-based terror groups, comes amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions, including India’s withdrawal from the Indus Waters Treaty and speculation about Pakistan reconsidering the Shimla Agreement. The attack’s timing, following provocative rhetoric from Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir, underscores the persistent threat of cross-border terrorism.
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