Bengaluru made SkyStriker drones used in precision strikes during Operation Sindoor

Bengaluru-made SkyStriker suicide drones, developed with Israeli collaboration, were used in Operation Sindoor, enabling precise, silent strikes on terror targets with a 100km range and 5–10kg warheads.

Image Credit: Soical Media

Bengaluru: In a major boost to India’s indigenous defense capabilities, Bengaluru-made SkyStriker loitering munitions, commonly referred to as suicide drones”, were deployed during the Indian Armed Forces’ Operation Sindoor. The precision strike mission, launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, saw these unmanned aerial vehicles targeting terrorist infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

The SkyStriker drones, developed through a collaboration between Alpha Design Technologies Ltd., headquartered in Bengaluru, and Israel's Elbit Security Systems, are designed to loiter in the sky, locate targets, and deliver warheads with pinpoint accuracy. These drones were part of an emergency procurement made by the Indian Army in 2021, with around 100 units reportedly ordered.

With a range of up to 100 km, SkyStrikers can carry either 5kg or 10kg warheads and are powered by electric motors, enabling stealth operations due to their low acoustic signature. This makes them highly effective in covert missions, particularly in hostile and densely monitored environments.

Sources confirmed that the drones used in Wednesday's precision strikes were manufactured in an industrial estate in western Bengaluru. However, Alpha Design CMD Colonel (Retd.) HS Shankar declined to confirm their use, stating such information falls under the jurisdiction of government authorities.

Marketed as cost-effective and highly reliable, the SkyStriker drones are known for enhancing the operational effectiveness of forward-deployed units and special forces by offering direct aerial strike capabilities. According to Elbit Systems, the drone combines the surveillance capabilities of a UAV with the lethality of a guided missile, delivering a crucial tactical advantage in modern warfare. 

The successful deployment of SkyStrikers in Operation Sindoor reflects a shift in India’s counter-terrorism strategy, with advanced technologies like loitering munitions increasingly integrated into military operations. These drones represent a transformative leap in sensor-to-shooter timelines and battlefield precision.