Aircraft & UAVs

Decoy drones

Decoy drones are reusable target UAVs used to imitate aircraft signatures, stimulate air-defense radars, and absorb or reveal enemy responses. In the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict, public reporting identified Indian use of Banshee and Lakshya-type drones during Operation Sindoor as deception assets rather than strike weapons.

2025 India-Pakistan ConflictIndia

Conflict side: India
Built by: QinetiQDefence Research and Development OrganisationHindustan Aeronautics Limited
Built in: United Kingdom and India

Decoy drones, Reusable aerial target and decoy UAV, Aircraft & UAVs

Image source: Banshee Target Drone HMS Prince of Wales

Profile

Type: Reusable aerial target and decoy UAV
Conflict side: India
Origin: India and United Kingdom
Service note: Modern target-drone and air-defense training systems adapted to May 2025 deception reporting

UAV electronic warfare air defense

Service History

In service: Lakshya inducted into Indian service from 2000; Banshee target drones remain in international service
Used by: Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy
Wars: 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict

Production History

Designer: QinetiQ predecessor Target Technology / Meggitt for Banshee family; DRDO Aeronautical Development Establishment for Lakshya
Designed: Banshee family from the 1980s; Lakshya development sanctioned in 1980
Built by: QinetiQDefence Research and Development OrganisationHindustan Aeronautics Limited
Built in: United Kingdom and India
Variants: Banshee Jet 80+, Banshee Jet 40+, DRDO Lakshya, Lakshya-II

Specifications

Primary function: Reusable aerial targets and decoys for threat representation, air-defense training, and deception missions
Banshee Jet 80+ speed: Up to 200 m/s in straight and level flight according to QinetiQ
Banshee Jet 80+ endurance: Typical mixed-throttle mission time over 45 minutes with auxiliary fuel
Lakshya propulsion and launch: Gas-turbine, high-subsonic target launched from land or ship
Lakshya target signature: Carries two 1.5 km tow targets with radar, infrared, or visual signature augmentation

Conflict Usage

2025 India-Pakistan Conflict: Side: IndiaRole: Air-defense deception and radar exposureelectronic warfare UAV
Indian forces reportedly used Banshee and Lakshya-type target drones during Operation Sindoor as decoys that simulated fighter aircraft, drew Pakistani air-defense responses, and helped expose radar locations without risking crewed aircraft.

Decoy drones Images

Decoy drones, Reusable aerial target and decoy UAV, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1 — Source: Banshee Target Drone HMS Prince of Wales

Decoy drones, Reusable aerial target and decoy UAV, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2 — Source: DRDO Lakshya Pilotless Target Aircraft

Decoy drones, Reusable aerial target and decoy UAV, Aircraft & UAVs - view 3 — Source: Banshee 300

Decoy drones, Reusable aerial target and decoy UAV, Aircraft & UAVs - view 4 — Source: Lakshya PTA at HAL

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Sources

India's Weapons Systems: Op SindoorPublisher: Defstrat | Note: Supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict direct use: decoy drones reportedly used by Indian forces during Operation Sindoor to mimic fighter jets and expose Pakistani air-defense radars. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 IAF Banshee Decoys Tricked Pak Air DefencePublisher: Inshorts | Note: Supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict direct use: Banshee Jet 80+ decoy drones were used by the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor to deceive Pakistani air defense along the Line of Control. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 What the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict Revealed about Modern WarfarePublisher: The National Interest | Note: Supports background context that drones in the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict were used for surveillance, decoy operations, and precision strike functions. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Banshee Jet 80+Publisher: QinetiQ | Note: Supports manufacturer background and specifications for the Banshee Jet 80+ aerial target, including speed, endurance, engines, payload options, GPS, telemetry, and recovery features. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Pilotless Target Aircraft - LakshyaPublisher: Defence Research and Development Organisation, Government of India | Note: Supports manufacturer background and specifications for Lakshya as a reusable high-subsonic aerial target system with tow targets and radar, infrared, or visual signature augmentation. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Banshee Target Drone HMS Prince of WalesPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Banshee Jet 80 target drone photograph from UK Ministry of Defence imagery under the Open Government Licence. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 DRDO Lakshya Pilotless Target AircraftPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a DRDO Lakshya pilotless target aircraft photograph licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Banshee 300Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Meggitt Banshee target drone photograph licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Lakshya PTA at HALPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Lakshya pilotless target aircraft photograph licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-21