Drone, the game-changer: a new phase in Indo-Pak conflict

By K N Pandita

In the first instance of Pakistan-based terrorists deploying drones to strike vital installations, two drones dropped explosive material on the IAF station located at Jammu airport in the wee hours of 27th June 27. A cocktail of combustible material, including RDX, is believed to have been used. No doubt this was the first drone attack on an IAF station, yet drones have been deployed by Pakistan in the past as well to drop arms, ammunition and literature across the LoC/IB in the Jammu region. Security forces have recovered some of their payloads.

Pakistan claims that India has also been deploying drones across the border and that she has so far been able to record at least twenty sorties of drones in the recent past. It shows that both sides have been testing the use of shifting to drone warfare in J&K.

Deployment of drones by Pakistan gives her the advantage of targeting Indian facilities deep inside the LoC without breaking the ceasefire agreement between the two army commanders. Indian military top brass has already conceded no violation of the ceasefire. However, as the finger of accusation points towards the Pakistan-based and UN-designated terrorist outfit, Lashkar-i-Taiyyaba, it is presumed that the Lashkar has already obtained the green signal from its high-ups which indicates changed war tactics.

The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) is playing a role in different applications. It can be used in many aspects of military and civil purposes, such as aerial photogrammetry, warzone, surveillance, traffic and climate monitoring. This paper focused on the development of an avionics system for a composite material UAV using a low-cost integrated module.

Much before India took note of the significance of the drone as a devastating weapon, Pakistan was alive to its efficacy. Soon after 9/11 when the US unleashed a global war on terror. Pakistan responding to the warning of President Bush, decided to be on her side. Pakistan feared that the tribesmen of the frontier region would resent the decision of Pakistan to support the Americans in the war against terror. It began looking for Predator type of drones from the US on the plea that she will have to monitor the 2500 km long Durand Line. It did not come about because the Pentagon authorities were sceptic that it could lead to technology proliferation.

Not discouraged by the American indifference, Pakistan offered the contract of developing an indigenous UCAV to the National Engineering & Scientific Commission (NESCOM). The UCAV called ‘Burraq’ after the legendry creature mentioned in the Quran that had carried Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem to Heaven and back to Mecca during the night of Mi’raj. The US Predator and the Chinese Rainbow had impacted Pakistan’s decision to make a choice.

Pakistan completed Burraq’s development as a UCAV in March 2015. Pakistan successfully launched Burraq for the first time on 7 September 2015 in carrying out a strike on a terrorist compound in the Shawal Valley. Reportedly, three high profile terrorists got killed. Sometime later, the reports said that Burraq was used to launch several strikes on terrorist hideouts in the Tirah Valley located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province as a part of the Pakistan army’s Operation Khyber.

On 26 December 2020, Shishir Gupta wrote in the Hindustan Times: “This month, China’s state media announced its decision to supply 50 Wing Loong II armed drones to Pakistan, it prophesied, would be a nightmare for Indian ground formations in high-altitude areas. Indian military may not be able to respond to the new-age stand-off weapons ». In his opinion, China’s much-hyped decision of supplying 50 armed drones to Pakistan is a reminder for India to move and develop weapons that it has deemed to be a necessity.

China made Pakistani military brass believe that the armed Chinese drones had played a decisive role in the conflict areas like Libya, Syria and Azerbaijan, by decimating enemy defences and conventional armour. They boasted that the “Indian ground formations would be unable to parry and a tack by a large number of armed drones. »

The fears of the inability of Indian formations at high altitudes to tackle the drone attacks are not tenable. « Whether it is the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir or the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, the airspace is closely monitored by radars and hotly contested with fighters Security forces will shot down if they cross the lines, » said a former Indian Air Force chief.

But this notwithstanding, Pakistan’s acquisition of the armed drones from China does underscore the need for India to acquire weaponized drones and anti-drone systems since the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles can be used to launch air-to-ground weapons without crossing the LoC or LAC. The drones can discharge the weapons beyond the engagement envelopes of the Indian guns or surface-to-air missiles on the ground. The dropping of explosive material on the IAF station located at Jammu is to understand in this context.

Writing in the Eurasian Times of 29 November 2020, Younis Dar commented on Pakistan’s drone policy like this:
“To enhance surveillance on the border and fast-track weapons dispatches on the Indian side of Kashmir, Pakistan is roping in Turkey to provide it with high-tech mini UAVs, reports India’s Times Now channel recently reported. According to the report, the Islamic nation is negotiating a deal to buy small drones from multiple Turkish companies to bolster its UAV fleet for deployment on the border with India.”

The Times New Channel also reported that Indian security forces recently shot down a drone in the Kathua region of Jammu and Kashmir, with reports of more drone shootings in recent months by the Indian army. Pakistan is, therefore, hunting for more drones, especially mini-UAVs, to up its game against India.

Turkish drones have gained worldwide popularity for their battle performances, as demonstrated recently in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the wars in Syria and Libya. It has encouraged Pakistan to profit from its closest ally’s autonomous assets.

Younis Dar added that the Indian media also revealed Pakistan conducting trials in early September this year for the S-250 mini UAV at its 506 UAV based workshop. Later on, more were made in the 12 Infantry Division area from 8 to 18 September. The S-250 is claimed an ideal drone for effective monitoring of a designated area at any time of the day, ensuring the security of assets, detecting non-permissive activity in areas of responsibility. Despite its small size, it can fly up to 3 hours, with a video transmission range up to 25 km and a control range of up to 50-70 km.

Pakistan has been conducting trials for the S-250 mini UAV trials at Mangla at the 506 UAV based workshop. These mini UAVs are primarily for surveillance and can be in the air for about three hours with a video transmission range up to 25 km and a control range of up to 50-70 km. Pakistan is also looking for the S-350 UAV. There have been trials also at Gwadar, Muzaffarabad, and Turbat in Baluchistan. It can be in the air for over four hours and has a range of 280 km.

Pakistan has also been negotiating to buy advanced drones from the Turkish firm Bogazici Savunma, for the ILTER drone detection and neutralizing systems. The ILTER Drone Detection and Prevention System is the latest feature in today’s drones, with automatic detection, stopping, and deception features against drones using ISM bands while communicating remotely.

It is not correct to think that India has not been alive to the new threat of drones. Hindustan Times reported that the Indian military has been testing the efficacy of the Israeli SMASH 2000 Plus systems. To counter the growing drone threats, India is now urgently looking to acquire the Israeli system. The SMASH 2000 Plus is based on the SMASH 2000 system and includes an advanced Counter-UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) mode that enables accurate « hard kill » capability. Its electro-optic (EO) sight system also offers a day/night rapid target acquisition capability to target small and rapidly moving aerial threats like combustible balloons and kites. Sometimes after the SMASH 2000 was upgraded to target small and fast drones from closer ranges of a rifle.

Last year, the Indian Navy had placed an order for an unspecified number of fire-control systems capable of countering the drone threats — the SMASH Fire control systems, manufactured by the Israeli firm Sharp Shooter.

Apart from the Navy, the Army and the Border Security Force had also reportedly expressed their interest in acquiring the SMASH Fire control systems.

The research wing of the Pentagon demonstrated a Counter-Unmanned Air System (c-UAS) multilayer defence architecture, reported The EurAsian Times. Known as the Mobile Force Protection (MFP) program, it can counter hostile drone intrusions. The expectation is that the system will guard moving convoys from smaller drones. The anti-drone system is equipped with X band radar to destroy the hostile drones, and with its advanced radar senses, identifies unmanned aerial system threats rapidly.
India and the US have agreed to defence cooperation. In all probability, India will have to ask for the help of both Israel and the US in bolstering counter-drone strategy. Unfortunately, no country came to the support of Armenia in her short-lived war with Azerbaijan that deployed the made-in Turkey Bayraktar TB2 and Anka-S drones which had proved combat efficacy in operations in Syria, Iraq, Libya and more recently in Armenia.

Turkey has a defence collaboration with Pakistan. In the recent past, Ankara has not hidden its animosity against India on international and regional platforms. Dependable reports say that Turkey is developing an increasing variety of lethally armed drones ranging from large, high-flying, bomb-laden ones to very small, low-flying UAVs that can form deadly swarming. Its plans to counter-drone attacks either from Pakistan or China, India has to keep in mind what role Turkey is likely to play in a conflict like that.