Asia Defense | Security | South Asia

Exercise Rotor Clap III and Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Options for Pakistan

India is trying to establish a defensive shield against airborne objects, from drones to missiles.

An Indian Air Force helicopter takes part in Exercise Rotor Clap III at the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan, Aug. 1, 2026.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) concluded a week-long helicopter drill, Exercise Rotor Clap III, on August 2 at the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan. The exercise was conducted to validate a key operational concept of shooting down unwarranted low-flying loitering munitions and drones. The exercise is part of an attempt by the IAF to plug the loopholes exposed during Operation Sindoor, especially pertaining to the incursion of Pakistani drones deep into Indian territory. This carries serious consequences for Pakistan, as it is linked to India’s attempt to establish a defensive shield against airborne objects, as evidenced by New Delhi’s pledge to operationalize Mission Sudarshan Chakra. 

As its name suggests, this was the third iteration of Rotor Clap, a drill conducted by the IAF to take out drones using its rotary assets. Rotor Clap was inaugurated in 2019; however, Rotor Clap II and III gains special significance because they followed India’s launch of Operation Sindoor in May 2025. For the IAF, the Rotor Clap exercises are an attempt to test and validate new warfighting tactics, techniques, and procedures, with a central focus on shooting down slow-moving airborne targets. The latest exercise involved rotary-wing platforms from the IAF fleet, including Apache, Prachand, Mi-25/35P, Rudra, and Mi-17V-5 helicopters. 

Rotor Clap III was held under the aegis of the IAF South Western Air Command, which saw the activation of its units at forward operational bases in Rajasthan, bordering Pakistan. The air rotary maneuvers were conducted there because both Prachand and Apache helicopters are deployed in different air stations and aviation bases in Rajasthan. Prachands of the IAF have been deployed at the IAF Jodhpur air station since 2022, while Apaches are with the 451 Army Aviation Squadron based in Jodhpur. The field activity suggests these helicopters could be a broader part of Mission Sudharshan Chakra and serve as its airborne leg to intercept and neutralize aerial objects. 

Rotary platforms have demonstrated in recent conflicts that they are as effective as other defense systems at shooting down intruding aerial objects. For instance, an Israeli Air Force Apache helicopter shot down six drones in a couple of minutes during the 2025 12-day Iran-Israel war. As India has close strategic cooperation with Israel, there is a strong possibility that the IAF may have approached the Israeli Air Force for assistance on counter-drone operations. 

A key question arises as to whether India has sufficient numbers of helicopters to carry out the task of tracking and shooting down airborne drones and loitering munitions. The backbone of the Indian helicopter fleet would be the indigenously developed Prachand, designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The IAF and Indian Army Aviation Corps currently have 10 and five Prachand helicopters in service, respectively. 

In the future, 156 additional units will be inducted into the fleets of both services: 66 to the IAF and 90 to the Indian Army. These 156 helicopters will be delivered by 2032. The order could be completed earlier as well, as HAL has........

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