India and Pakistan escalate drone arms race after border clashes

India and Pakistan are locked in a growing drone arms race following their first large-scale UAV clashes, signaling a new era of warfare in South Asia.

After their fiercest confrontation in decades, India and Pakistan are intensifying their use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), marking a new arms race centered on drone warfare. In May, hundreds of drones were deployed along their shared border in a show of force following a deadly attack in Kashmir.

Both sides are now investing heavily in drone technology to avoid risking pilots or triggering full-scale war. India plans to triple its UAV spending to nearly $470 million, while Pakistan is expanding production through partnerships with China and Türkiye. Despite heavy losses, both nations view drones as a cheap yet effective way to apply pressure without escalating conflict. However, challenges such as electronic vulnerabilities and reliance on Chinese components threaten long-term drone independence for India.

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