IAI Harop
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 1, 1953 in Israel |
| Headquarters | Tel Aviv , Israel |
| Products | Harop loitering munition, missiles, UAVs |
| Website | www |
The IAI Harop is a type of loitering munition engineered by the MBT Missiles Division of Israel Aerospace Industries. It remains airborne over combat zones, ready to strike targets upon receiving commands from its operator.
Overview
Merging the features of both missiles and UAVs, the Harop is launched from a canister and proceeds to a designated area where it can loiter for extended periods, performing vital ISR operations. Once a target is identified, it engages by detonating itself on impact.
Controlled through man-in-the-loop operation, the Harop enables operators to remotely select either stationary or moving targets detected by its electro-optical sensor. It boasts an endurance exceeding 6 hours and a maximum operational range of 200 km.
In addition to the standard model, IAI developed the Mini Harop tailored for tactical missions requiring shorter flight durations (approximately 1 hour) and the capability to be launched from military platforms such as the JLTV. The Mini Harop is designed specifically to address fleeting, time-critical targets.
History
The Harop's development incorporated an electro-optical sensor system and built upon the foundation established by the IAI Harpy loitering munition, which revolutionized military tactics globally since the 1980s.
It has achieved widespread international adoption and numerous operational achievements. Turkey is believed to have been the initial customer around 2005. In October 2005, MBDA presented the Harop under the designation "White Hawk" to the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence as part of its Loitering Munition Capability Demonstration (LMCD) initiative, also known as "Fire Shadow". Although it reached finalist status, the UK MoD ultimately opted for a domestically developed alternative.
By August 2007, India was engaged in negotiations to acquire between eight and ten Harop systems. The Indian Air Force announced in September 2009 plans to induct up to 10 units of these drones after purchasing them for US$100 million. The platform was showcased publicly in India prior to the Aero India 2009 exhibition. In February 2019, India expanded its inventory by ordering an additional 54 units, rebranding them as P-4 models and bringing its total fleet to approximately 110 drones. Various undisclosed nations have also procured the Harop, which continues to play a key role in their defense frameworks.
Combat history
The IAI Harop loitering munition gained significant recognition for its operational success during the April 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, where Azerbaijan effectively deployed it despite challenges such as subzero temperatures, steep dive attacks, and GPS interference. In 2020, Hikmet Hajiyev, an advisor to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, emphasized the critical contribution of the Harop during that year's Nagorno-Karabakh hostilities.
Outside of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Harop was credited with neutralizing a Syrian Air Defence SA-22 Greyhound system on 10 May 2018. Additionally, on 9 December 2024, it was utilized in an assault targeting Syrian Armed Forces within Syria.
2025 India–Pakistan conflict
In May 2025, amid hostilities between India and Pakistan, Indian forces employed multiple Israeli-origin drones including the Harop to strike military sites across Pakistani urban centers such as Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Pakistan reported intercepting most of these unmanned systems. This confrontation represented a significant instance of loitering munitions being used in combat between two nuclear-armed nations.
Operators
- : Procured by the Koninklijke Marine for deployment on Amphibious and Multi-Support Vessels
See also
External links
- HAROP - Loitering Munition System command and control em IAI official site. Accessed 2020-10-09.