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Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Op Sindoor paused after Pakistan requested for ceasefire: Rajnath Singh
NEW DELHI: Operation Sindoor is the natural progression of the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes in Pakistan, and it was conducted in a manner that forced Islamabad to ask for a ceasefire, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday, articulating India's firm resolve to fight terrorism. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacts with the armed forces personnel during 'Barakhana' at Northern Command headquarters, in Udhampur, J&K, on Friday. (PTI) 'It was executed in such a way that Pakistan requested for a ceasefire, and only then have we put a pause to the operation. As I have said earlier, Operation Sindoor is not over yet. India is fully prepared to take all kinds of action against terrorism,' Singh said at an International Yoga Day function organised by the army in Udhampur. The army's Northern Command based in Udhampur is the nerve centre of counterterrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir. India launched the operation in the early hours of May 7 and struck terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the Pahalgam terror strike in which 26 people were shot dead. It triggered a four-day military confrontation with Pakistan involving fighter jets, missiles, drones, long-range weapons and heavy artillery before the two sides reached an understanding on stopping all military action on May 10. Singh led the armed forces' yoga day celebrations, with around 2,500 soldiers taking part in the Northern Command event. Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi and Northern Army commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma were present. 'Yoga gives clarity to the people in chaos. It is an art, a science, a philosophy, and spirituality. Those who practise yoga in their daily lives have control over their body and mind. It makes us proactive, not reactive,' he said in his address, describing Operation Sindoor as a shining example of that 'control.' The Indian armed forces showed restraint, balance and precision during the operation, which is a reflection of their inner strength attained by practising yoga, he said. The operation was a clear message to Pakistan that it will face the consequences for supporting terror activities against India, he said. Pakistan wants to weaken India from within, but it should never forget that just like Major Somnath Sharma, Brigadier Mohammad Usman too sacrificed his life for the unity and integrity of the country, Singh said referring to the bravehearts who fought valiantly during the 1947-48 India-Pakistan war. Sharma and Usman were posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra and the Maha Vir Chakra, respectively --- the country's highest and second highest wartime honours.
India Gazette
13 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Rajnath Singh remembers Major Somnath Sharma and Brigadier Usman's sacrifices for India's unity, issues stern warning to Pakistan
Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 21 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan while addressing a gathering in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur on Saturday. Remembering the contributions of Major Somnath Sharma and Brigadier Usman, Rajnath Singh said that Pakistan should not forget how both of them sacrificed their lives to maintain India's unity. 'Pakistan wants to weaken India from within. But Pakistan should not forget that if Major Somnath Sharma sacrificed his life for the unity and integrity of India, then great men like Brigadier Usman have also sacrificed their lives for this country', Rajnath Singh said while addressing the gathering. Hailing Operation Sindoor, Rajnath Singh mentioned that it was not just a response to the Pahalgam terror attack but also a message for Pakistan that the 'consequences' of carrying out terror activities against India can be worse. He asserted that the Operation Sindoor was the natural progression of the 2016 Surgical Strike and the 2019 Balakot airstrike. 'Operation Sindoor was not just a response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Through this operation, we have told Pakistan that the consequences of carrying out terrorist activities against India will be worse. Operation Sindoor is a natural progression of the surgical strike of 2016 and the air strike of 2019', Rajnath Singh said. Furthermore, Rajnath Singh said that any attack on Indian soil will cost Pakistan 'dearly' and highlighted that the country is fully prepared to take any action against terrorism. 'Through Operation Sindoor, we have told Pakistan that their campaign of inflicting thousands of wounds on India through terrorism will not succeed now. Any terrorist attack on Indian soil will cost Pakistan very dearly. India is fully prepared to take all kinds of action against terrorism', the Defence Minister added. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. Singh met the army personnel and praised their efforts in Operation Sindoor. (ANI)
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
IAF To Get New 120-Kg Smart Bomb With 100-Km Range For Long-Range Stand-Off Strikes
Last Updated: The IAF's push to integrate long-range stand-off missiles and bombs marks a major shift in strategy, aiming to boost precision strike capability and overall combat effectiveness In a major boost to its aerial strike capabilities, the Indian Air Force is preparing to equip its fighter jets with the indigenously developed Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW). Likely to be integrated into platforms like the Sukhoi-30 MKI, the precision-guided weapon marks a significant advancement in India's defence technology. Defence sources reveal that the SAAW is a type of glide bomb guided by satellite, capable of striking targets up to 100 kilometres away with remarkable precision. This capability allows for the destruction of specific targets from a considerable distance, thus bolstering the effectiveness of air strikes. The Ministry of Defence is expected to review the induction of this weapon into the Air Force shortly. If approved, it would provide India with a formidable edge in aerial combat. Experts assert that such modern weaponry will substantially strengthen India's defence infrastructure, potentially causing concern among neighbouring countries like Pakistan and China. What Is SAAW? The SAAW, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Hyderabad, is a state-of-the-art, high-precision bomb weighing around 120 kg. Its design focuses on incapacitating crucial components of enemy airbases, such as radars, bunkers, taxi tracks and runways. In essence, it can neutralise enemy airfields without necessitating the deployment of fighter jets into hostile territory. As a stand-off weapon, it can be launched from a distance while still maintaining accurate targeting, similar to the weapons used in India's 2019 Balakot airstrike. The focus on integrating long-range stand-off weapon systems, including specialised missiles and bombs, reflects the Indian Air Force's strategic shift towards advanced combat capabilities. The demand for such sophisticated weaponry has surged following the success of Operation Sindoor, where the Indian Army targeted terrorist bases in Pakistan. The SAAW, one of DRDO's most successful projects, is poised to play a crucial role in augmenting India's military prowess.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Indian Air Force to get advanced indigenous smart anti-airfield weapon for fighter jet fleet
New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): In what would be a big success for indigenous weapon systems, the Indian Air Force is looking to acquire an advanced version of the Indigenous Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon, which would be fitted on almost the entire fighter jet fleet of the force, including the Su-30 MKI. A proposal from the Indian Air Force to get the satellite-guided version of the SAAW air launched glide bomb is expected to be discussed by the Defence Ministry soon. This would be able to hit targets with accuracy at 100 Km strike range, defence sources told ANI. SAAW, an indigenously designed and developed 120 kg class smart weapon developed by DRDO, is capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 kms. The lightweight high precision guided bomb is one of the world-class weapons systems. SAAW is indigenously designed and developed by DRDO's Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad has been developed with an aim of engaging ground enemy airfield assets such as radars, bunkers, taxi tracks, and runways etc. The stand off weapon is similar to the stand off weapons used in the Balakot air strikes on targets in Pakistan. The proposal is coming up for discussion at a time when the Indian forces are looking for long range stand off weapon systems and have tasted success in a big way during Operation Sindoor against Pakistani terror and military targets. The SAAW is one of the successful projects carried out by the DRDO. The DRDO has also offered the SAAW missiles to the defence forces under the emergency procurement process to equip the forces rapidly for future conflicts. The Indian Air Force is looking to equip itself with multiple long-range weapon systems, including missiles and other systems. (ANI)
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Indian Air Force to get advanced indigenous smart anti-airfield weapon for fighter jet fleet
The Indian Air Force plans to acquire an advanced, satellite-guided version of the Indigenous Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) for its fighter jet fleet, including the Su-30 MKI. Developed by DRDO, this 120 kg class smart weapon can precisely strike ground targets up to 100 km away. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In what would be a big success for indigenous weapon systems, the Indian Air Force is looking to acquire an advanced version of the Indigenous Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon , which would be fitted on almost the entire fighter jet fleet of the force, including the Su-30 MKI.A proposal from the Indian Air Force to get the satellite-guided version of the SAAW air launched glide bomb is expected to be discussed by the Defence Ministry soon. This would be able to hit targets with accuracy at 100 Km strike range, defence sources told an indigenously designed and developed 120 kg class smart weapon developed by DRDO , is capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 kms. The lightweight high precision guided bomb is one of the world-class weapons is indigenously designed and developed by DRDO's Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad has been developed with an aim of engaging ground enemy airfield assets such as radars, bunkers, taxi tracks, and runways stand off weapon is similar to the stand off weapons used in the Balakot air strikes on targets in proposal is coming up for discussion at a time when the Indian forces are looking for long range stand off weapon systems and have tasted success in a big way during Operation Sindoor against Pakistterror and military SAAW is one of the successful projects carried out by the DRDO has also offered the SAAW missiles to the defence forces under the emergency procurement process to equip the forces rapidly for future Indian Air Force is looking to equip itself with multiple long-range weapon systems, including missiles and other systems.
