Drone and defence tech stocks surge as India deploys suicide drones in retaliatory strikes on Pakistan
Mumbai: With drones playing a crucial role in retaliatory operations against Pakistan in Operation Sindoor, stocks of drones and defence technology firms have gone up.
Stocks like ideaforge, Droneacharya Aerial Innovations, and ZEN Technologies rallied sharply on Friday, as investors witnessed significant reliance on unmanned warfare in Operation Sindoor, reported India Today.
Expecting increased military procurement amid widening India-Pakistan conflict, investors are pivoting towards these stocks.
Shares of ideaForge Technology surged nearly 17% to ₹450 on the BSE after Indian forces reportedly deployed suicide drones to dismantle air defence systems in Lahore and Multan, said the report.
The escalation also lifted other defence counters, with Droneacharya rising 5%, ZEN Technologies gaining 5%, and Paras Defence advancing nearly 5% in intraday trade.
The sharp market reaction followed a dramatic flare-up in the Indo-Pak conflict on Thursday.
India carried out targeted air strikes on nine terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, retaliating against the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead.
In response, Pakistan launched a series of drone and missile strikes on Indian military positions across Jammu and Kashmir.
Indian officials confirmed the use of Harop loitering munitions—also known as suicide drones—to destroy Pakistani air defences.
India's integrated air defence systems, comprising indigenous, Russian, and Israeli platforms, were activated to intercept incoming attacks.
Defence sources claimed at least one enemy fighter aircraft was downed during the exchange.
Tensions remain high along the Line of Control, with heavy shelling reported from Pakistani positions in Uri, Kupwara, and Poonch.
Blackouts were triggered in several civilian zones across Punjab and Rajasthan as air raid sirens rang out, prompting residents to seek shelter amid fears of further hostilities.
The rally in defence and drone-related stocks highlights investor optimism around India’s defence readiness and focus on indigenisation.
With a ₹6.81 lakh crore defence budget for FY26—of which ₹1.8 lakh crore is earmarked for capital expenditure—analysts expect the government may accelerate or expand procurement plans in light of emerging threats.
Brokerages such as Nuvama have remained upbeat on the sector, recently projecting a $130 billion defence opportunity over the next five years.
The outlook is underpinned by large-scale upgrades for the Air Force and Navy, including LCA Tejas fighters, Astra air-to-air missiles, AMCA stealth jets, and next-gen radar and electronic warfare systems.
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