Indian authorities stated that Pakistan used more than 300 UAVs, some of which were identified as Songar armed UAVs developed by ASİSGUARD after inspections.
The UAV assault exchanges between India and Pakistan might have become a scene for the first use of Turkish ASİSGUARD’s Songar armed rotary-wing UAVs in a conventional conflict. Indian authorities’ statement did not cover the configuration of Songar UAVs, which can be configured to carry a wide variety of light armament.
The sale of Songar has not been announced by either ASİSGUARD or the Pakistani authorities.
The timing of the claimed Songar attack is not too far from an UAV attack by India, in which Israeli Harop long-range loitering munitions fitted with EO/IR systems were used. Images of crashed Harop loitering munitions were shared by Pakistani social media accounts.
Songar Armed UAV
Songar was developed as one of the first purpose-built firearm-carrying UAVs with a specially designed flight control system and a 5.56 mm machine gun.
However, in time, ASİSGUARD has developed Songar with different armament options, including: 5.56 mm machine gun + 40 mm single-shot grenade launcher, six 40 mm Saika micro rockets, revolving grenade launcher, three 81 mm mortar rounds, and various assault rifles.
Songar’s flight control system was designed to counteract the recoil force from the mounted machine gun, which also has a recoil mitigation mechanism. The UAV can fire single shots and 15-round bursts from the machine gun loaded with 200 rounds.
Songar’s control range reaches five kilometres from a mobile ground control system.
How Songar Might Have Been Utilised?
If the claims are true, this hints at a mass attack with Songar and likely other types of UAVs to wear out Indian lines. Due to the control range, Songars might have been carried by a vehicle to a safe place, and there could be extra communication measures like stronger antennas or relays.
Considering the firepower of Songar consists of firearms and small explosive weaponry, their targets would likely be infantry, radars, and logistics.
The count of UAVS used in the attack and the mention of Songar specifically also hint at swarm tactics to overwhelm the defences. Compared to infantry, a UAV like Songar has comparable firepower but with the advantage of flight and more room to make risky approaches.
The war in Ukraine has been a scene of the first widespread use of UAVs in a conflict, and the conflict between Pakistan and India might become a scene of more different scenes considering the proximity of both sides’ bases and the geographic conditions.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
