Here’s What Makes India’s Kamikaze Drones Extremely Lethal Against Pakistan

New Delhi, India - India’s recent advancements in drone warfare have reached a pivotal moment with the successful testing of kamikaze First Person View (FPV) drones by the Indian Army’s Fleur-De-Lis Brigade. This development, conducted in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), marks a significant leap in India’s military capabilities, particularly in the context of its tense relationship with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025. The attack, which claimed 26 lives and injured over 20, has heightened tensions, prompting India to showcase its drone technology as a potential response.

The trial site, located in the Pathankot sector, was not chosen at random. Given its proximity to the Line of Control, it served as a rehearsal theatre for operations India might consider if it escalates post-Pahalgam. Tactically, these FPV drones are designed to act as cheap, lethal strike vectors against hardened targets like Pakistani armoured formations, radar positions, and forward bunkers. Each unit, built indigenously, combines aerial agility with terminal explosive precision.

From Battle School To Battlefield: India’s DIY Drone Arsenal Gets Frontline-ready

The FPV drone initiative began in August 2024 as a classified in-house weapons programme within the Fleur-De-Lis Brigade. This elite Army formation, trained in next-gen asymmetric warfare, collaborated with TBRL for payload science while overseeing assembly at its own Rising Star Drone Battle School. Over 100 such kamikaze drones were fabricated by March 2025 using modular, low-cost, high-impact designs specifically for precision engagement roles.

Trials were executed in three tightly monitored phases: explosive lethality calibration, manoeuvrability tests, and trigger-system integrity validation. DRDO scientists supervised each sortie, ensuring the explosive payload was activated only under secure command. These drones carry tailored warheads with enough blast force to destroy an armoured vehicle, making them ideal for LoC missions. Their single-use nature, paired with low production cost—Rs 1.4 lakh per unit—permits swarm doctrine deployment.

Loiter, Lock, Strike: How India’s FPV Drones Are Engineered For Surgical Strikes

Technically, each drone runs on a compact FPV system linked to a radio-controlled detonation protocol. Operators receive real-time telemetry and payload updates through headset-mounted goggles, giving them direct control over when and where the drone hits. Safety protocols include a dual-stage arming mechanism to prevent unintentional detonation during transport or fallback.

Lightweight materials and radar-evasive profiles grant these drones a near-stealth footprint. They are reported to reach speeds of 40 metres per second with a warhead capacity of 700 grams—enough to rupture APC hulls and degrade enemy bunkers. The real innovation lies in their flexibility. These drones can turn mid-flight, evade countermeasures, and dive into soft or semi-armoured targets based on operator commands.

Drone War Doctrine: India’s Asymmetric Play Against Pakistan’s Heavy Armour Doctrine

India’s drone initiative comes at a time when the tactical calculus with Pakistan is evolving. The FPV platform directly challenges Pakistan’s reliance on tank-heavy offensive doctrines along the LoC. Unlike Pakistan’s Burraq drone—which carries heavier payloads but lacks FPV precision—India’s kamikaze drones offer real-time strike decision-making, lower costs, and finer manoeuvrability.

Pakistan’s indigenous drones like Shahpar II or Chinese imports like Wing Loong II favour surveillance roles. In contrast, India’s FPV drones are built for terminal effects. They’re more comparable to Ukraine’s battlefield kamikaze drones than to traditional military UAVs. This not only enhances India’s deterrence posture but also gives policymakers a tool for escalation management—short of sending in jets or artillery.

The New Normal: Drone Warfare Reshapes Retaliatory Doctrine In Post-pahalgam India

The Pahalgam massacre, attributed to The Resistance Front—a proxy backed by Pakistan’s ISI—has shifted the conversation. India has already suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and shut the Attari border crossing. But as calls for kinetic response mount, drones offer a surgical, deniable option with minimal collateral damage.

In future skirmishes, a swarm of 20–30 drones could be launched from concealed bases to neutralise Pakistani tanks, radar units, or logistic nodes in seconds. Unlike artillery, drones don’t leave launch signatures. Unlike manned missions, they carry no pilots. And unlike strategic airstrikes, they operate below radar thresholds—perfect for controlled retaliation in a post-Pahalgam theatre.

Watch - This Is Exclusive: Exposing The Direct Role Of Pak Army In Pahalgam Terror Attack | Kashmir