What is the Israeli-made Harop drone?

WEB DESK: The Israeli Harop drone, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is a highly advanced, deadly loitering munition that has reportedly been used in recent airspace violations against Pakistan by India.

Unlike traditional drones, Harop doesn’t carry a missile—it is the missile. It’s designed to fly over a target area, identify enemy radars or high-value assets, and then crash into them with a built-in 23kg explosive warhead, destroying itself and the target in a single hit. This “kamikaze-style” drone can operate for up to six hours and travel as far as 1,000 kilometers, making it capable of striking deep into enemy territory.

The drone has two targeting modes. One allows it to autonomously detect and destroy enemy radar signals—a tactic often used in Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD). The second mode allows remote operators to manually target static or moving objects using a built-in electro-optical camera. This dual guidance makes it more versatile than earlier drones like the Harpy.

The Harop was first developed to target radar installations and was reportedly used in past conflicts, including the Nagorno-Karabakh war by Azerbaijan. India also purchased the Israeli Harop drone, and its reported use in the current standoff with Pakistan has raised major security concerns.

Pakistan shoots down 25 Indian drones across the country

Pakistan military has confirmed that some of the drones shot down recently in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Karachi, and other areas appear to be Harop units. These drones allegedly targeted sensitive installations.

The Harop’s ability to strike targets without risking pilot lives, and its use in populated or strategic zones, poses a serious challenge for air defence systems.

Earlier today ISPR confirmed the downing of over two dozen such drones, claiming they were neutralised using both soft kill (electronic disruption) and hard kill (direct strike) methods.

In a media briefing, the DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry revealed that Indian forces violated Pakistan’s airspace last night. “The Indian aggression is a severe breach of international laws,” he said.

He further stated that Pakistan Army successfully shot down 25 drones across different regions, including one in Chhor, Sindh. “Debris is being collected from various locations for investigation,” he added.

According to the  spokesperson, drone strikes were attempted in Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Chhor, and near Karachi. The Pakistan Army intercepted and downed 25 Indian drones in total.

Four Pakistan Army soldiers sustained injuries in the Lahore drone strikes, while in Mianwali, a civilian was martyred and another injured, he said.

“In Karachi’s vicinity as well, a hostile drone was brought down,” DG ISPR confirmed. Debris from the destroyed drones is being collected from various sites.

“These are repeated acts of Indian intrusion, and they will not go unanswered,” said the military spokesperson, adding that the armed forces are on high alert and fully prepared to respond.