Israeli drones launched by India into Pakistani airspace last week were powered by engines manufactured in Britain, as reported by media sources citing the military of Pakistan. Late last week, international media shared a photograph of an undamaged engine retrieved from a drone that the Pakistani military had shot down.
India’s use of Israeli-made Harop drones—developed by IAI and powered by components from Elbit Systems subsidiaries—has escalated tensions with Pakistan.
Recent footage shows multiple interceptions by Pakistani air defence, revealing the depth of India’s defence ties with Israel… pic.twitter.com/TPIvqCd1yC
— TRT World (@trtworld) May 8, 2025
This engine bears distinct manufacturer markings indicating it was made by UAV Engines Ltd, a company based in the UK. An official from the Indian government confirmed on Thursday that at least one Israeli drone launched by India was intercepted by Pakistan, which claimed on Friday to have downed a total of 77 such drones.
India deployed various models, including the Harop suicide drone from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the SkyStriker suicide drone from Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest defense contractor.
The Express Tribune reported on Friday that the Pakistani military acknowledged that some of the downed drones were equipped with engines from UAV Engines Ltd. The engine featured in the circulated image is identified as the AR731, recognized for having the highest power-to-weight ratio among rotary engines globally. The photograph corresponds with the specifications and image of the model listed on UAV Engines Ltd’s official website.
⚡️JUST IN:
A Pakistani boy holds the engine of an Israeli-made Harop drone that was shot down over Link Road in Karachi.
The boy said he wanted to use it as an engine for his motorcycle. pic.twitter.com/5CITClynWd
— S2FUncensored (@S2FUncensored) May 8, 2025
The firm, situated in the village of Shenstone in Staffordshire, UK, operates as a subsidiary of Israel’s Elbit Systems. An official from the Indian government indicated on Thursday that some drones deployed into Pakistan were provided to the Indian military by the Adani Group, a multinational corporation established by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, which shares a production line with Elbit.
Recently circulated video footage depicts a young Pakistani boy carrying an engine, reportedly recovered from a drone, which appears to be a model from UAV Engines Ltd.
A user manual from UAV Engines Ltd, published approximately ten years ago, states that the company supplies Israel Aerospace Industries, among others. However, more recent manuals have not disclosed the companies that UAV Engines Ltd currently supplies. The UK’s Department for Business and Trade has refrained from commenting on the matter.
This development follows criticism directed at the UK’s business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, by Labour backbench MPs last week after he suggested that Britain should not hesitate to sell arms to India. Labour MP Kim Johnson expressed her concerns to The Independent, stating, ‘I find the business secretary’s comments deeply troubling. You cannot voice concern over escalating tensions in Kashmir while simultaneously suggesting we should ‘not be squeamish’ about selling arms to one side of the conflict.’
Labour MP Jon Trickett emphasized that Britain must refrain from worsening the already precarious situation in the subcontinent by providing arms. He noted that supplying weapons to one side in a conflict contradicts our national interests and could lead to severe diplomatic repercussions from the opposing party.
However, on Saturday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to the UK and other nations for their roles in achieving a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Over the past decade, India has procured military equipment valued at $2.9 billion from Israel, which includes radars, surveillance and combat drones, and missiles.
Concurrently, the UK government is facing intense scrutiny from human rights organizations regarding its arms exports to Israel. A report released last Wednesday, based on Israeli import statistics, indicated that a variety of UK-manufactured military products, including components for F-35 fighter jets, have continued to be exported to Israel despite the British government halting 30 arms export licenses in September.
This week, the Department for Business and Trade is also confronting a high court challenge initiated by the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq concerning Britain’s provision of F-35 components to Israel. Following four days of intense shelling and unprecedented aerial attacks from both sides, India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire agreement on Saturday.
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