This Bengaluru-based company manufactured the suicide drones used in Operation Sindoor to attack Pakistan

The Indian Army deployed SkyStriker drones during Operation Sindoor early Wednesday, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, according to sources. These drones, also known as loitering munitions, were part of a 2021 emergency procurement order and are jointly developed by India and Israel, a TOI report stated.

Made in Bengaluru, used in cross-border strike

Sources told The Times of India (TOI) that SkyStriker drones were manufactured in an industrial estate in western Bengaluru. The production was part of a joint venture between Bengaluru-based Alpha Design and Israel's Elbit Security Systems. The Army had ordered around 100 SkyStrikers under an emergency procurement in 2021, following the Balakot air strike.

Each drone is equipped with a 5kg or 10kg warhead and has a range of 100 kilometres. Its electric propulsion system helps reduce noise, making it suitable for covert missions at low altitudes.

No official comment from manufacturer

When asked about the drone's role in Operation Sindoor, Alpha Design's chairman and managing director Colonel (retd) HS Shankar declined to confirm. “Such queries must only be referred to the govt authorities,” he said.

SkyStriker's capabilities

SkyStriker is promoted as a cost-effective solution for long-range precision strikes. The drone supports direct aerial fire missions and enhances operational awareness and survivability for ground forces.

Elbit describes the drone as one that "flies like a UAS (unmanned aircraft system) and strikes like a missile." The company adds, “As a silent, invisible, and surprise attacker, SkyStriker delivers the utmost in precision and reliability, providing a critical advantage in the modern battlefield.”

Changing face of modern warfare

Military operations now increasingly rely on technologies like loitering munitions, which change the way targets are identified and engaged. These systems combine surveillance and attack functions, offering an integrated tool for sensor-to-shooter missions.

Pakistan Drone attack

The Pakistan Army on Thursday reported explosions in multiple cities including Lahore, Karachi, and Sialkot. According to the Pakistan Army spokesperson, the blasts were caused by Harop loitering munition drones. He described the drone strikes as “a serious serious provocation” and presented images of drone debris during a press briefing.

India confirms strikes on Pakistan's air defence systems

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said, "Today morning Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised."

The ministry also stated, "On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks."

Harop drones: A loitering munition for precise strikes

The Harop drone is built by the MBT Missiles Division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is designed to operate as a loitering munition—capable of hovering over an area and striking targets when directed. The drone can function autonomously or under remote control, and can return if no target is engaged.

Harop combines the roles of both a UAV and a missile. It is intended to track and hit critical military targets such as tanks, radar installations, air defence units, command posts, and supply stations. The drone uses electro-optical sensors to observe and confirm targets before crashing into them and detonating on impact.

The drone can operate for up to nine hours, scanning a pre-defined area to locate and attack from multiple angles. It does not depend on pre-fed target information and is designed to function in environments with GNSS signal interference.