New Delhi: The Indian Army on Monday showcased a Turkey-made armed drone 'Yiha' that was shot down by Indian Air Defence systems during Operation Sindoor in May this year. The Turkish drone was reconstructed
and displayed at an event hosted by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi to commemorate the Vijay Diwas.Yiha III belongs to the Kamikaze class of drones that was used by Pakistan when it launched a swarm drone and missile attack to target Indian civil and military establishments during India’s Operation Sindoor.
What is a Yiha Drone?
- Yiha is a single use attack unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) that was shot down by Indian armed forces.
- During Operation Sindoor, the Indian air defence systems shot Yiha drone when it was flying at a height of 2,000 meters on May 10.
- Pakistan launched Yiha from Lahore International Airport and its possible target was Jalandhar in Punjab.
- Yiha was carrying a play load of 10 kg when it was shot down by Army Air Defence (AAD). It was intended to blow up on impact.
- Yiha has a wingspan of two metres and is powered by a two-stroke engine with a horsepower of 170 CC.
- Between May 7 and May 10, Indian air defence systems shot down and destroyed almost all drones and missiles that Pakistan launched against India.
- 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e87MJ-cEgcI
India commemorates Vijay Diwas on December 16 in honour of the soldiers who laid down their lives in the 1971 war with Pakistan that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
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What Happened During Operation Sindoor and Why Was It Launched
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.
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With inputs from PTI
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