India vs Pakistan
Delhi has approved the emergency purchase of additional air defence and counterterrorism weaponry after a brutal air conflict between India and Pakistan from May 7–10.
On April 22, India launched an attack on Pakistan following the deaths of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. India said Pakistan was hiding terrorists. As part of Operation Sindoor, India initially targeted nine camps in Pakistan, suspecting their use by terrorists.
Pakistan’s retaliation, which includes drone strikes and shooting down an unknown number of Indian fighter jets (some say more than 05), has now led Delhi to speed up the purchase of the necessary weapons.
So, India’s Ministry of Defence inked 13 contracts worth 19.82 billion rupees, which is US$231.6 million.
Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems
The most important ones are Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems (IDDIS), Low-Level Lightweight Radars (LLLR), and very short-range air defence launchers and missiles.
People said that the IDDIS counter-drone technology shot down Pakistani drones during the battle in May. Bharat Electronics Limited makes both the IDDIS and the LLLR. The LLLR is a portable, 3D, active electronically scanned array radar. The LLLR detects aerial threats such as drones with small radar cross-sections.
Since the conflict began, India has intercepted drones that crossed the border from Pakistan and were carrying illegal small firearms. India needs strong air defences and drones because Pakistan and other non-state entities are using them more and more.
The government said of the 13 contracts, “Executed through fast-track procedures under the emergency procurement mandate, the procurement aims to enhance situational awareness, lethality, mobility and protection for troops deployed in counterterrorism environments.”
Drones and loitering munitions are also on the way. The Indian media says that ideaForge’s Hybrid Mini UAV, which does surveillance, and 450 Nagastra-1R loitering bombs from Solar Industries are among them.
Distinct Models
As the military builds up its stockpiles, the Indian Army has asked for information on at least five distinct models of drones since January. Unmanned devices are highly effective in monitoring situations and reducing fatalities, particularly in the challenging terrain separating India and Pakistan.
Indian soldiers would also get bulletproof jackets, ballistic helmets, rifle night sights, and Tata 4×4 Quick-Reaction Fighting Vehicles as part of the 13 contracts. In April 2022, the Indian Army got its first QRFVs.
The Ministry of Defence said that all of this equipment comes from within the country.
Officials added in a statement, “The emergency procurement route continues to be a key enabler in bridging urgent capability gaps and ensuring timely induction of vital operational equipment.”
Conclusion
Since January, there have been at least 80 reports of terrorist and insurgent strikes in India. The military has carried out 536 operations to fight terrorism and insurgency.
“Operation Sindoor is now the country’s official policy in the fight against terrorism,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “This is a big change in the way we think about strategy.”
One part of that policy change is that India no longer sees a difference between terrorist groups and the governments that protect them. This kind of behaviour increases the likelihood of more conflicts between India and Pakistan.
References
- Defense News Today – India signs 13 emergency defence contracts
- Pakistan Defense Forum – Discussion on India-Pakistan May 2025 clash
- Ministry of Defence India – Emergency procurement statement
- Bharat Electronics Limited – IDDIS and LLLR product pages
- ideaForge – Hybrid Mini UAV info
- Solar Industries – Nagastra-1R details
