Operation Sindoor: Showcasing India's technological capability & growing military prowess
Dr. Prashant Prabhakar Deshpande has post-graduated in Economics with a Gold Medal in 1976 and was awarded a Ph.D in Social Sciences from Nagpur University in 2007. LESS ... MORE
Introduction
In retaliation to the barbaric terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam on 22nd of April 2025, India launched a calibrated military response, Operation Sindoor, that showcased the country's growing technological prowess. The operation was a symbol of India's commitment to protecting its citizens and territory from the scourge of terrorism. India's military forces demonstrated exceptional skill and precision, using cutting-edge technology to neutralise multiple threats and eliminate terrorist infrastructure.
The terrorist attack on Pahalgam was an example of the evolving pattern of asymmetric warfare, where unarmed civilians and military personnel are being increasingly targeted. India's response to this dastardly attack was deliberate, precise, and strategic with Indian forces striking terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan without crossing the Line of Control (LoC) or international boundary. The successful execution of the Operation Sindoor is hailed to have led to a major achievement in India's move towards technological self-reliance in military operations.
India's Air Defence capabilities
On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to attack a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including, Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj using drones and missiles. These were however neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and Air Defence systems, Air Defence systems detecting, tracking, and neutralising threats using a network of radars, control centres, artillery, and both aircraft and ground-based missiles. On the morning of May 8, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan, even neutralising an Air Defence system at Lahore.
India's Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and Air Defence Systems are a collection of sophisticated, multi-layered technological framework designed to detect, track, and neutralise any incoming hostile drones, missiles, and aerial threats into Indian airspace or terrestrial land border.
Performance of indigenous systems
Operation Sindoor, reportedly used the following Indigenous Systems which showcased a stellar performance:
Battle-proven Air Defence systems like the Pechora, a surface-to-air missile system, OSA-AK, a surface-to-air missile system, and LLAD guns, the Low-level air defence guns;
Indigenous systems such as Akash, which demonstrated stellar performance.
Akash, a Short-Range Surface to Air Missile system can reportedly simultaneously engage multiple targets in Group Mode or Autonomous Mode. Shooting at multiple targets requires a combination of skill, focus, and strategy. Engaging multiple targets is as much a physical challenge as a mental one. The ability to engage multiple threats efficiently and safely is a valuable skill when one finds oneself outnumbered. The Akash Weapon System has built-in ECCM (Electronic Counter-CounterMeasures) features and is configured i.e., arranged, or put together in a particular form or configuration on mobile platforms.
The ECCM is a method, by which one endeavours to combat the ECM (Electronic Countermeasure) systems of the enemy by:
Either making one's equipment ECM-resistant or;
By using techniques to nullify the enemy's jamming and/or decoy systems.
Decoy Systems are one of the many tools used to protect one's information systems from potential cyber threats. As the name suggests, a decoy or imitation system is designed to distract or divert a potential hacker away from actual critical systems.
Seamless integration of technology
The Indian Armed Forces reportedly demonstrated exceptional synergy in their use of technology during Operation Sindoor. The Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) of the Indian Air Force brought all elements together providing the net-centric operational capability to the forward edge of the battlespace, enabling full spectrum dominance vital in modern warfare.
Full-spectrum dominance also known as full-spectrum superiority, is a military entity's achievement of control over all dimensions of the battlespace, effectively possessing an overwhelming diversity of resources in such areas as terrestrial, aerial, maritime, subterranean i.e., under the ground, extraterrestrial, psychological and cyber-technological warfare.
The use of long-range drones, guided munitions, and loitering munitions made the strikes highly effective.
Evidence of neutralised threats
The Operation Sindoor provided concrete evidence of hostile technologies neutralised by Indian systems, including:
Pieces of PL-15 missiles of Chinese origin;
Turkish-origin UAVs;
Long-range rockets;
Quadcopters, a category of drones which are controlled by four rotors with four arms stretching out of a frame, and;
Commercial drones.
These were recovered and identified, showing that, despite Pakistan's attempts to use advanced foreign-supplied weaponry, India's indigenous air defence and electronic warfare networks proved superior.
Role played Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
A crucial role was also played by the satellites of ISRO in ensuring the safety and security of the country. At least 10 satellites reportedly worked round-the-clock to monitor the country's borders and provide vital information to the military.
It must be noted that the use of satellite technology has become increasingly important in modern warfare and India's investment in this area has paid off during Operation Sindoor.
Epilogue
Operation Sindoor decisively demonstrated to Pakistan & its all-weather friends, China & Turkiye that, despite Pakistan possessing advanced foreign-supplied weaponry, India's indigenous air defence and electronic warfare networks proved superior during Operation Sindoor launched by India to avenge the dastardly attack by Pakistan backed terror outfits destroying their training & indoctrination centres.
Operation Sindoor is seen, not just a story of tactical success, but a validation of India's defence indigenisation policies. From air defence systems to drones, from counter-UAS capabilities to net-centric warfare platforms indigenous technology has delivered when it mattered the most. The fusion of private-sector innovation, public-sector execution and military vision has enabled India to not only defend its people and territory, but also assert its role as a hi-tech military power.
In future, conflicts on the battlefield are going to be increasingly shaped by technology. India, as demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, armed with its own innovations, backed by a determined state, and powered by the ingenuity of its people is therefore future ready to play its role in any future conflicts.
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