India has revealed critical details about a weaponised drone used by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, underscoring the scale of the aerial threat neutralised by Indian forces in May 2025. NDTV was granted exclusive access to the wreckage of a Turkish-origin kamikaze drone that was shot down by Indian air defence systems and later displayed at the residence of Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in New Delhi on the occasion of Vijay Diwas.
The drone on display was identified as a YIHA-III, a loitering munition jointly developed by Turkey and Pakistan. According to officials, the drone was launched from Lahore International Airport and was flying at an altitude of around 2,000 metres when it was intercepted and destroyed by Indian forces on May 10. Its intended target was the Indian Air Force base at Hoshiarpur in Punjab, but it was successfully neutralised over Amritsar before it could reach Indian military infrastructure.
Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7, a day after precision strikes destroyed multiple terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed. Beginning May 8, Pakistan responded with a massive drone offensive, launching hundreds of armed drones targeting nearly 36 towns and cities across Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab.
Indian defence officials said the YIHA-III drone was carrying approximately 10 kilograms of munitions. Designed as a loitering or “suicide” drone, the YIHA-III is capable of hovering over a designated area to identify targets before crashing into them with an explosive payload. However, the majority of such drones were intercepted by India’s multi-layered and integrated air defence network, preventing large-scale damage.
Cyber and technical experts from the Indian Army later dismantled and analysed the drone to study its flight control systems, navigation components, and origin, helping establish Pakistan’s operational intent and foreign linkages. Officials indicated that the forensic examination further strengthened evidence of Turkey’s defence collaboration with Pakistan.
There were also reports that Pakistan deployed Turkish-made Songar armed drones, manufactured by Ankara-based defence firm Asisguard, during the same period. These drones come in multiple variants capable of carrying assault rifles, grenade launchers, mortars, and even non-lethal payloads such as tear gas.
The display of the intercepted drone serves as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of modern warfare and highlights India’s preparedness in countering drone and missile threats. Operation Sindoor marked one of the most intense military confrontations between India and Pakistan in recent years, ultimately ending after four days of hostilities when both sides reached an understanding to halt military action.
