The long-standing tension between India and Pakistan has taken on a new dimension with India’s latest statement. India claimed that the Pakistani Army used Turkish-made ASISGUARD SONGAR drones in the attacks carried out on the night of May 7-8.
According to news outlet Awaz The Voice, speaking to the press on Friday, May 9, Indian Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said that they had detected Pakistan using 36 to 300 drones in 400 different locations. Qureshi explained that most of these drone attacks were successfully brought down by Indian security forces, both through physical interventions and technological methods.
Colonel Qureshi stated that after the initial examination of the downed drones, they believe that these vehicles are SONGAR drones manufactured by the Turkish defense industry company ASİSGUARD. In addition, Qureshi stated in the briefing that Pakistani forces targeted India's infrastructure facilities and violated its airspace on its western border several times on the night of May 7-8.
Grenade Launcher Integrated ASISGUARD SONGAR Claim
Stating that the Pakistani Army carried out its attacks using heavy-caliber weapons along the Line of Control (LoC), Colonel Qureshi added that Pakistani forces attempted infiltration from 36 different points. Speaking at the same briefing, Indian Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Vyomika Singh accused Pakistan of both aggression and endangering international aviation security.
On the other hand, according to information cited by Awaz The Voice based on various defense sources, Pakistan allegedly targeted the Jammu region in its attacks using low-cost rockets similar to the ones Hamas uses to target Israel. It is also alleged that in the early hours of Thursday, May 8, the Indian Army conducted a large-scale counter-drone operation along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) during which it destroyed more than 50 Pakistani drones.
ASİSGUARD SONGAR Armed Drone System
The ASISGUARD SONGAR Armed Drone System, which was first exhibited at the International Defense Fair IDEF19, was developed indigenously and nationally by ASISGUARD within the scope of the Presidency of Defense Industries Armed Mini/Micro UAV Project. This system, which can be used effectively during the day and at night, has the ability to integrate automatic machine guns, grenade launchers and smart mortar ammunition. SONGAR can perform its missions at a standard range of 3 kilometers and an optional range of 5 kilometers. If India's claim is true, this situation can be considered as an important development regarding the use of Turkish defense industry products in conflict zones. There has been no official statement from Pakistan regarding the incident yet.
