In a significant disclosure regarding the events of May 2025, representatives from the Turkish defence manufacturer Asisguard have acknowledged that the operational failure of their Songar armed drones against India was primarily due to tactical misuse by the Pakistan Army.
Sources within the Ankara-based firm stated that the systems were deployed in high-risk strategic roles far beyond their design specifications, leading to their neutralization by India’s robust electronic warfare (EW) and air defence grid.
Tactical Mismatch in a Strategic Theatre
According to Asisguard officials speaking on condition of anonymity, the Songar system was engineered strictly for close-range infantry support and counter-insurgency operations in permissive environments.The quadcopter, which entered service with the Turkish Armed Forces in 2020, features a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 45 kg and an endurance of roughly 25 to 30 minutes
"The Songar is a tactical force multiplier designed to operate within a 3-to-5-kilometre radius, providing immediate fire support for squads using its stabilized 5.56mm machine gun," a company representative explained.
"It was never intended to penetrate the layered, integrated air defence network of a peer adversary like India. Attempting to use a short-range quadcopter for deep cross-border strikes against S-400 and Akash missile systems is a fundamental doctrinal error."
The May 8 Incursion
The admission follows the massive aerial assault on the night of May 8, 2025, when Pakistan launched a swarm of 300 to 400 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) targeting military infrastructure across northern and western India.The attack, which targeted bases from Ladakh to Gujarat, was intended to overwhelm Indian sensors and gather critical intelligence following the Pahalgam terror attack earlier that month.
Despite the unprecedented scale of the swarm, the incursion failed to achieve its objectives. Indian defence sources report that the vast majority of the drones were intercepted or jammed before they could inflict damage.
The Indian Air Force and Army Air Defence units utilized a combination of 'hard kill' kinetic interceptors and 'soft kill' electronic warfare systems—likely including the indigenous Samyukta and HimShakti EW platforms—to sever the drones' command links, forcing them to crash or return autonomously.
Technical Limitations Exposed
Post-engagement analysis of the wreckage recovered by Indian security forces confirmed that a significant percentage of the downed UAVs were Asisguard Songar units.The forensic data highlighted the platform's vulnerability when pushed beyond its tactical envelope. Lacking the stealth, speed, and standoff range of larger combat drones like the Bayraktar TB2 or Akinci, the Songar units were easily detected by Indian radar and neutralized.
While the drone boasts advanced features for its class—including an IP67-rated dust-resistant body, GPS/GLONASS navigation, and a specialized OASIS recoil-dampening system for its machine gun—these capabilities are optimized for line-of-sight engagements, not contested airspace dominated by high-power jamming.
Geopolitical Implications
While Pakistani military spokespersons initially claimed the operation was a success that gathered vital data, independent assessments suggest a loss rate exceeding 80 per cent.This disparity has sparked debate regarding Islamabad’s drone doctrine and its reliance on imported off-the-shelf solutions for strategic ends.
For Turkey, the incident presents a complex diplomatic challenge. While the failure risks damaging the reputational standing of its defence exports, the manufacturer’s clarification serves to distance the hardware’s quality from the operator’s strategy.
Meanwhile, the failed incursion and India’s subsequent retaliatory strikes have likely accelerated Pakistan’s search for more capable, long-range systems, even as budget constraints loom large.
