What are HAROP Drones?

May 9, 2025

Indian armed forces recently deployed Israeli-origin Harop drones to carry out precision strikes on air defence systems in Pakistan as part of their ongoing 'Operation Sindoor'.

About HAROP Drones:

  • The Harop drone, developed by the MBT Missiles Division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), belongs to a class of weapons known as loitering munition
    • These drones are designed to hover in a designated area for up to nine hours, identify hostile targets, and destroy them by crashing into them with a built-in explosive payload.
    • Unlike conventional UAVs, which return after surveillance missions, loitering munitions serve a dual purpose: reconnaissance and attack.
  • The Harop is equipped with an electro-optical (EO) or infrared (IR) seeker to detect, track, and engage static or mobile threats, including radar systems, missile launchers, and command posts.
  • Capable of autonomous operation with human oversight, the Harop offers a man-in-the-loop control mode, allowing the operator to make final decisions before impact.
  • It is also equipped with abort capability, allowing for mission cancellation mid-flight to avoid collateral damage.
  • Other notable features include:
    • A wingspan of 3 meters and a length of 2.5 meters.
    • Maximum speed of 417 km/h.
    • Operational range of 200 km.
    • Flight endurance exceeding six hours.
    • Service ceiling of approximately 15,000 feet.
    • A 16 kg high-explosive warhead.
  • Circular Error Probable (CEP) of under one meter, making it highly accurate.
  • This combination of attributes allows the Harop to loiter over hostile areas, strike from any angle—including shallow or steep dives — and perform in GPS-denied environments due to its resistance to satellite jamming (GNSS).
  • India has been a known operator of the Harop drone for over a decade.

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