29 shot down Harop drones cost India Rs5.73bn

LAHORE: The Pakistani military Thursday said it shot down 29 Israeli Harop drones, costing India an amount of US$ 17.5 million or Pakistani Rs5.73 billion approximately.

The total cost of Harop drones, downed by Pakistan, has been calculated by keeping into consideration a latest report appearing in the “Israel Business News,” according to which, a single aircraft of this brand and specifications costs about US $700,000 (Pak Rs197.4 million).

Harops are also defined as suicide drones, as they are destroyed with their target, they are usually with man in the Loop (MITL) guidance. These drones don’t have a landing gear, according to theaviationist.com, and are single-use system which can loiter for a certain time over a defined area while looking for a target to attack.

A renowned Lincoln City (US)-based website “Aircraft.com,” an online aviation resource featuring reliable information about a wide range of aircraft, including business jets, piston aircraft, light sport aircraft and helicopters, writes: “Harop drones are primarily designed for the suppression of enemy air defenses without the need for human pilots. A combination of stealth and precision, they are equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and intelligent software that enable them to autonomously detect and engage targets. Effectively neutralizing the threat posed by hostile air defenses, its unique “Loitering Munition” concept allows it to loiter over targets for extended periods, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.”

This website, which offers photos and detailed information about over 270,000 aircraft and designed for aviation industry buyers, sellers, and operators, travelers and aircraft enthusiasts, adds: “It is also equipped with advanced image recognition algorithms and artificial intelligence that enable it to identify and engage targets independently. It can differentiate between friend and foe, minimizing the risk of collateral damage. Its capabilities greatly reduce the risk of unintended damage to friendly assets. Integration of the IAI Harop with manned fighter aircraft could lead to increased effectiveness in modern warfare. Collaboration between humans and autonomous systems can offer improved situational awareness and extended operational capabilities.”

This is what leading Israeli and Indian media houses have written about the characteristics of a Harop drone, a unique Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV):

The “Times of Israel,” in its May 8, 2025 edition, reports: “The Harop, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries, can fly to targets and then attack by crashing into them on command from the operator, destroying itself in the process. In addition to use by the Israeli military, a number of countries have reportedly bought, or intend to buy, Harop drones, including India and Azerbaijan, the last of which has used them in battles against Armenia. Not all of the sales have been made public.” The “Times of India” maintains: “In September 2009, the Indian Air Force announced that it will be inducting the Harop systems purchased for US$100 million. The Harop was publicly unveiled to the world for the first time in India, in the lead-up to the Aero Asia 2009 show. In February 2019, the Indian Air Force decided to add another 54 Harop drones to its fleet of around 110.” By the way, as research shows, the Harop drones are developed by the 72-year-old Israel Aerospace Industries, a state-owned company that is served by 15,000 employees, earns a revenue of $4.973 billion, has an operating income of $797 million and a net income of $213 million. This drone length is 2.5 metres, has a wing span of 3 metres, and operates with a communication range of 200 kilometres, it has a maximum speed of 417kilometres/hour, a service ceiling of 4600 metres, has an endurance of six plus hours and can carry a war-head weighing up to 16 kilogrammes.

However, the “Hindustan Times” states: “The drone carries a 23 kg (51 pound) explosive payload, enabling it to neutralize a wide range of high-value and mobile targets, including radars.”

According to a February 23, 2024 report of the “Reuters” news agency, India has imported military hardware worth $2.9 billion from Israel over the last decade, including radars, surveillance and combat drones, and missiles.

According to the British news agency, India is the world’s largest arms importer, buying $37 billion worth between 2012 and 2022, according to the “Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.”

The “Reuters” asserted: “Israel is the fourth largest supplier of military hardware to India, which has bought weapons worth $21.8 billion from Russia, $5.2 billion from France and $4.5 billion from America in the last decade.”

For those who think drones are relatively less lethal, at least 943 civilians have been killed in 50 separate drone strike incidents between November 2021 and November 2024, the Doha-based “Al-Jazeera” had revealed in its March 11, 2025 report.

And according to a chronology compiled and published by the “African Centre for Strategic Studies” on April 21, 2025, there were 484 drone strikes resulting in 1,176 casualties across 13 African countries in 2024.

Between 2014 and 2018, at least 430 US drones had killed 81 high and low-level Taliban leaders including Baitullah Mehsud, Akhtar Mansoor and Hakimullah Mehsud, in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa.

At least for American citizens had also perished in these drone strikes. Overall, as the London-based “Bureau of Investigative Journalism,” these strikes had killed between 3,798 and 5,059 militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan border areas, besides claiming lives of hundreds of civilians.

The “New America Foundation” said the figure of fatalities in drone attacks on Pakistani soil, between 2004 and 2018, had rested at 3,096, which included 2,533 militants.