New Delhi: India, in a major step to boost its air defence, will be acquiring around 850 new kamikaze drones and integrate them in all three country's defence and special forces, months after Operation Sindoor.ANI quoted Defence Sources saying that the acquisition plans are in advanced stages and likely to be cleared soon by high-level meeting of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), that will be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in month end.As per the proposal to be implemented under the fast-track procedures by the force, the Army will get around 850 loitering munitions along with launchers from indigenous sources, they said.The Indian Army uses a large number of loitering munitions acquired from different sources and is now looking
to induct around 30,000 of them in the near future to equip all its fighting forces, they said.ALSO READ | Battlefield Breakthroughs: How the Indian Army is Harnessing Kamikaze Drones and Autonomous UAVsThe Army infantry battalions will now have one Ashni platoon each, which will be responsible for operating drones to be used against enemy locations and also in counterinsurgency roles, they said.
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How Drones Helped India During Operation Sindoor
The Army heavily utilised drones to target terror headquarters inside Pakistan during Operation Sidoor.India took out seven of the nine terrorist targets on the first day of the operation, which was conducted in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed.
ALSO READ | Made in Turkey, Fired by Pakistan, Shot by India During Op Sindoor: Army Displays Yiha Kamikaze Drone - What Are They?Later on, the drones were also used against the Pakistan Army, which came out strongly to defend the terrorists backed by it.The number of casualties in Army strikes was very high and caused heavy damage to the enemy infrastructure on the borders, they said.
What Are Kamikaze Drones?
The Kamikaze class of drones are also known as "suicide drones" as they are weapon systems that can hover or circle a target area, searching for a suitable target before attacking.
Why India Launched Operation Sindoor
India’s Operation Sindoor was a counter-terror offensive launched to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, with precision strikes targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).It was a swift, 88-hour military campaign that began on May 7, 2025, targeting multiple Pakistani military installations and terror camps, causing extensive damage to airbases, hangars, and terror infrastructure.Indian armed forces struck nine major terror camps and eleven Pakistani military installations, including the Nur Khan, Chaklala, Rafiqui, Rahim Yar Khan, and Jacobabad airbases, among others.After India targeted the terror camps, Pakistan retaliated by attempting to strike India with a swarm of drones and missiles, however, none of their drones or missiles were able to hit Indian targets as a swift and full proof Indian air defence systems neutralised them mid-air.In Pahalgam terror attack, 4-5 Pakistan-backed terrorists shot dead 26 innocent civilians including 25 Indians and one Nepalese who were vacationing in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The terrorists singled out tourists on the basis of religion and targeted Hindus.
With inputs from ANI
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