What Are Asisguard Songar Drones and How Pakistan Used Them in Attack on India
Introduction
In a concerning development for regional security, the Indian government has officially confirmed that Pakistan utilized Turkey-manufactured Asisguard Songar drones in a large-scale aerial assault targeting Indian military infrastructure. This latest incident highlights the growing role of weaponized drones in modern asymmetric warfare and raises questions about foreign involvement in South Asia’s escalating tensions.
What is the Songar Drone?
The Songar UAV, developed by Turkish defense firm Asisguard, is a tactical combat drone capable of carrying small arms and ammunition. It was introduced as Turkey’s first quadrotor armed drone and has since been integrated into various combat and surveillance operations.
Core Capabilities:
- Weight: Max takeoff weight around 44 kg
- Payload Options: Machine guns, grenade launchers, or micro munitions
- Flight Ceiling: Operates up to 3,000 meters above sea level
- Effective Range: 3–5 km radius, depending on configuration
- Endurance: Up to 25 minutes of flight time
- Features: Real-time video feed, autonomous targeting, night vision support, and dust/water resistance (IP67 rating)
This drone stands out for its ability to perform precision strikes in short-range urban or border environments and is optimized for guerrilla-style or hybrid warfare.
Explore:
- Kamikaze Drones: Evolution, Capabilities, and India’s Strategic Advancements
- IAI Harop Drone: Operation Sindoor
- AWACS Aircraft: The Eyes in the Sky
May 7–8 Attack: What Happened
On the night spanning May 7 and 8, Pakistan launched a major drone and missile barrage directed at Indian bases located in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, and Leh. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), between 300 to 400 drones were used to hit 36 locations across India’s northern defense perimeter.
Forensic analysis and on-ground recovery operations have indicated that a substantial portion of the drones were Turkish-origin Songar UCAVs. Despite the scale of the strike, Indian armed forces intercepted the majority of them using kinetic defense systems and drone jammers. No casualties or major damage were reported.
Why the Songar Drone Deployment is Alarming
The use of these drones is concerning for multiple reasons:
- Precision Weaponization: Songar UAVs are not just surveillance tools—they can be armed with live ammunition, making them battlefield-effective.
- Cross-border Technology Transfer: Pakistan’s access to Turkish military-grade drones points toward growing military cooperation between Ankara and Islamabad.
- Proxy Warfare Tactics: The deployment of foreign drones in this attack underscores how countries can wage indirect conflict using outsourced technology.
Geopolitical Context: Pakistan-Turkey Defense Ties
Just weeks before this attack, Turkey had publicly reaffirmed its support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, following the April 22 terror incident in Pahalgam. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, sparking speculation about deeper strategic alignment.
Defense analysts believe that Turkey’s provision of UAV technology is part of a broader military collaboration that could reshape regional power dynamics. The Songar drone’s appearance in an active theater adds credence to these concerns.
India’s Response: Operation Sindoor
Following the drone barrage, India launched a retaliatory operation named “Operation Sindoor.” According to Indian Air Force officials, this involved targeted strikes on at least four Pakistani military installations, including the destruction of a radar unit.
In addition to the military response, India has also initiated digital countermeasures. The government has ordered social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to block over 8,000 accounts that were spreading misleading or false information aimed at creating panic.
Conclusion
The confirmed use of Asisguard Songar drones by Pakistan in the May 7–8 attack reflects a dangerous evolution in how unmanned systems are being integrated into hostile cross-border strategies. As drone warfare becomes more common in South Asia, the risk of rapid escalation grows, especially when foreign defense technologies are involved.
India’s swift interception and strategic retaliation demonstrate its readiness to respond, but the situation underscores the need for global attention to prevent technology-fueled conflicts from spiraling out of control.
