Pakistan Neutralizes Israeli-Made Loitering Munitions Used by India: What We Know About Harop Drones

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he successfully brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, ending a dangerous week of military escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Just hours earlier, Pakistan’s military revealed that it had shot down 77 Israeli-made Harop drones used by India. The announcement marked a major moment in the intensifying drone warfare shaping South Asia’s evolving battlefield.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed the drone takedowns in a press briefing. He said the Harop drones, designed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), were operating across multiple Pakistani cities, including Lahore and Karachi, in clear violation of the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC).

What We Know

The Harop drone is not a conventional surveillance aircraft. It’s a lethal hybrid between a missile and a drone—classified as a “loitering munition.” Developed by Israel, the Harop is designed to hover over a combat zone and crash into enemy targets once identified.

With a flight endurance of up to nine hours and a range of roughly 1,000 kilometers, the Harop can strike from far and linger until the moment is right. It carries a 23-kg explosive warhead, making it capable of destroying tanks, air defense systems, and radar stations.

India is one of several countries known to operate Harop drones, alongside Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Germany (for testing). The drone gained notoriety during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, where Azerbaijan used it with devastating precision against Armenian forces.

Its guidance system includes electro-optical and infrared sensors, allowing remote operators to lock onto targets in real time. Once a Harop spots its target, it dives straight into it, detonating on impact.

But this time, things didn’t go as planned for India.

Myth Destroyed

According to Pakistani military sources, many of the drones were intercepted and destroyed before reaching their intended targets. The army says it used advanced radar systems and integrated air defense platforms to neutralize the Harops. Social media users shared footage of burning drone wreckage across various parts of the country.

The incident underscored a larger concern: the growing Israeli footprint in the region’s warfare technology.

Israel has deepened its military exports in recent years, selling advanced weapons to countries with which it shares strategic ties. India, one of Israel’s biggest defense clients, has bought drones, missiles, radar systems, and cyber tools. The Harop is just one of many Israeli systems now embedded in India’s military infrastructure.

But for Pakistan, this isn’t just about drones. It’s about what they represent: an evolving security threat that combines foreign technology with regional hostilities.

As the military standoff spiraled earlier this week, Pakistan also downed five Indian fighter jets, including French-made Rafales and Russian-built Su-30s and MiG-29s. The Pakistan Air Force reportedly used Chinese-made PL-15 air-to-air missiles in the operations, marking their first documented use in real combat.

The PL-15 is a long-range missile that can strike targets over 200 kilometers away. Its radar-guided system and data-link capability give Pakistani pilots the ability to destroy enemy jets before they come into visual range. Experts say it could offer Pakistan a significant edge over India’s current missile arsenal.

This week’s air battles reveal how rapidly both nations are upgrading their arsenals—and how foreign powers are fueling the race. While India leans on Israel and Western suppliers, Pakistan has built its advantage through deep ties with China. From radar networks to fighter jets and advanced missiles, Chinese technology now plays a central role in Islamabad’s military strategy.