Post the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, India carried out airstrikes on Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.
In response to the rising threat, India has now approved emergency purchases of new weapons, drones, and defence systems to strengthen its fight against terrorism and protect its borders.
India Strengthens Defence Amid Terror, Drone Threats
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand - After a tense air battle with Pakistan between May 7 and 10, India has quickly approved the purchase of new weapons and defence systems to strengthen its air defence and counterterrorism efforts.
The decision came after a deadly attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed.
India blamed Pakistan for sheltering the terrorists responsible and launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine suspected terrorist camps inside Pakistan.
Pakistan responded with drone attacks and claims of shooting down several Indian fighter jets. This has pushed India to urgently buy new defence equipment.
The Indian Ministry of Defence has now signed13 contracts worth ₹1,982 crore (around $231.6 million). These contracts include:
Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems (IDDIS)
Low-Level Lightweight Radars (LLLR)
Very short-range air-defence missiles and launchers
Read More: India Strengthens Army’s Anti-Terror Capabilities with Emergency Purchases Worth ₹1,981.90 Cr.
The IDDIS system, made by Bharat Electronics Limited, successfully shot down Pakistani drones during the May clashes.
It works with the LLLR radar, a portable 3D radar system that can detect small and low-flying threats like drones.
India has also recently captured drones coming from Pakistan, carrying smuggled weapons. With both terrorists and the Pakistani military increasingly using drones, India is ramping up its defences against these threats.
According to the government, these 13 deals were made quickly using emergency procedures. The goal is to boost situational awareness, troop protection, lethality, and mobility in operations against terrorists.
India is also buying more drones and loitering munitions, weapons that can hover in the air before striking a target.
Among these are the Hybrid Mini UAV by ideaForge for surveillance, and 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions made by Solar Industries, as reported by Indian media.
Since January, the Indian Army has issued at least five requests for various drone types to grow its unmanned fleet.
These systems help monitor border areas and reduce the risk to soldiers, especially in the rough terrain along the India-Pakistan border.
The new purchases also include:
Bullet-proof jackets
Ballistic helmets
Night sights for rifles
Tata 4x4 Quick-Reaction Fighting Vehicles (QRFVs), the Army began receiving these vehicles in April 2022
Importantly, all the equipment is being sourced from Indian companies, under the government’s “Make in India” initiative.
A government statement said, “Emergency procurement helps quickly fill urgent gaps in capability and ensures timely delivery of important military gear.”
So far this year, India has reported over 80 terrorist or insurgent attacks. In response, the military has launched 536 counterterrorism operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that Operation Sindoor now represents India’s official policy in its fight against terrorism, signaling a clear and stronger approach.
Under this new policy, India will no longer separate terrorist groups from the governments that support them thereby raising the stakes for any future conflicts with Pakistan.
