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News18
5 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
What Is Operation Sindhu? Why Was It Launched? Top Queries Demystified Amid Israel-Iran War
Last Updated: Unlike Operation Sindoor, Operation Sindhu is not a military strike. It is non-combatant and evacuation-focused. Months after Operation Sindoor, the government of India has launched Operation Sindhu. The similar sounding names have led to confusion among some people. While Operation Sindoor was in retaliation to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Operation Sindhu has been initiated amid the Iran-Israel conflict. What's The Difference Between Operation Sindoor & Operation Sindhu Unlike Operation Sindoor, Operation Sindhu is not a military strike. It is non-combatant and evacuation-focused. Sindhu was launched on June 18 to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran amid rising fears of an all-out Israeli-American military strikes on Iran. What Was The Need For Operation Sindhu? The operation was initiated following the June 13 Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory, a significant escalation in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, which heightened safety concerns for foreigners in Iran. Facing growing instability, the government launched this mission to quickly evacuate citizens before the situation escalated further. Who are being evacuated as part of the mission? Indian students, professionals, seafarers, pilgrims and others located in Iran's conflict zones. The first group of 110 Indian students was moved overland to Armenia, then flown to New Delhi on Wednesday. They landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday. Among them, 90 are from Jammu and Kashmir. Flights have been planned, possibly via Turkmenistan, to evacuate more Indians. Meanwhile, the MEA control rooms are operating round-the-clock for people in distress. Why Was Operation Named 'Sindhu?' While there has been no official word on the reason, historically Sindhu is known as a river. In Sanskrit, 'Sindhu' literally means 'river' or 'ocean'. It's also the name of Indus river, one of the major rivers in the Indian subcontinent. Another historical significance is that India is said to derieve its name from Sindhu. The Persians pronounced 'Sindhu' as Hindu, which eventually became India in Greek and Latin usage. The operation's title likely symbolizes a large journey — representing India's commitment to crossing borders for the safety of its citizens. Execution Strategy Of Operation Sindhu Evacuation Routes & Transport The primary route is the overland escorted travel from northern Iran (e.g., Urmia) into Armenia, then onward by chartered flights from Yerevan to New Delhi. An arrangement has been made for alternate corridors too, which includes transit through Turkmenistan, leveraging commercial or special flights. Who Are Involved In Evacuation Mission? The Indian Air Force and commercial carriers like IndiGo are involved in flying back Indian citizens from Iran. There are Ministry of External Affairs-led 24×7 embassy helplines and crisis-control centers. The government has been coordinating with Armenian, Iranian, and Turkmen authorities for safe passage of Indian residents. First Published: June 19, 2025, 13:20 IST
News18
5 hours ago
- General
- News18
British F-35B Jet Remains In Thiruvananthapuram As Royal Navy Declines India's Support Offers
A British Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet remains grounded at Thiruvananthapuram Airport nearly a week after an emergency landing due to a suspected hydraulic failure. Days after a British Royal Navy F-35B fighter made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, it remains grounded there, multiple media reports suggest. According to Money Control, India offered to move the jet to a hangar at the airport to help the British technical team carry out repairs. However, this offer was declined by the Royal Navy, the Indian Defence Research Wing said. The Indian Air Force later suggested building a temporary shed at the site to protect the aircraft and ground crew from rain and heat, but this offer too was reportedly turned down, the report claimed. The stealth jet, operating from the UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, landed at the Thiruvananthapuram airport due to a suspected hydraulic issue. The incident happened while it was on a routine flight outside Indian airspace when it developed a technical fault and diverted to the southern Indian airport, designated in advance as an emergency recovery site. Though the emergency landing was safely executed and previously reported, the root issue, believed to be a fault in the aircraft's hydraulic system, has not yet been resolved, leaving the fifth-generation combat jet stationed at the airport for nearly six days now. According to news agency PTI, technicians from the carrier arrived shortly after the incident to begin inspection and repairs. Six of them returned to the ship on Tuesday afternoon, while three personnel, including the pilot, remain at Thiruvananthapuram to oversee the rectification efforts. The pilot did not remain in the cockpit after landing and has been resting in the airport's apron office area. As part of precautionary protocol, the aircrew were moved to the Emergency Medical Centre after the incident. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) has been facilitating their stay, providing accommodation and meals. A local ground handling agency was also arranged at the Royal Navy's request. The Indian Air Force, which tracked and cleared the jet for landing through its IACCS radar network, supports the UK team in returning the aircraft to full service. First Published: June 20, 2025, 14:37 IST
NDTV
5 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
40 China J-35 Jets For Pak, India's 5th Gen Decade Away: IAF Veterans Weigh In
New Delhi: China will reportedly supply 40 Shenyang J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter jets to Pakistan. With the J-35 induction, Pakistan joins a small group of countries operating stealth technology. The Indian Air Force (IAF), which currently lacks any stealth fighters in operational service, is still at least a decade away from inducting its indigenous fifth-generation stealth aircraft - the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Official estimates place the AMCA's induction around 2035. NDTV spoke to senior IAF veterans for insight into the implications of this development and to assess India's operational preparedness to tackle fifth-generation stealth fighters. Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat (Retd.), a former IAF fighter pilot and defence analyst, confirmed the developments with regard to Pakistani pilot training in China. "Pakistan receiving these jets is not a surprise at all because their team of nominated fighter pilots have been in China for more than six months," he said. "They were training on the type before they were inducted. It was reported that the version that China will give to Pakistan is the FC-31, a slightly toned-down version of the J-35, which is practised across the globe. Nobody gives the full version." The FC-31 is an export variant of the J-35 and is widely understood to possess reduced capability compared to the frontline aircraft serving the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF). "The only surprise element," Group Captain Ahlawat added, "is that they're coming a little ahead of schedule. That's the only surprise." The Indian Air Force has long maintained air superiority over Pakistan, based on superior training, tactics, and a more diversified inventory. The J-35 deliveries threaten to narrow that advantage. "It's worrying news," Group Captain Ahlawat said. "Ever since independence, we have fought a very hard battle in the procurement sphere to retain an edge over at least Pakistan, if not China. And any version of J-35 in Pakistani colours is going to raise concerns on our side. It's concerning." "Unfortunately, we have only two bad choices, the F-35 and the Su-57. The only good choice is the AMCA. The only way we can get past this problem is to give it a national mission-mode push and get it online as soon as we can." The AMCA, an ambitious twin-engine stealth fighter programme being developed by India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with the air force and navy, is still in the early stages of development. Prototype roll-out is targeted for 2028-29, and full induction is not expected before 2035. Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd.), who served in key planning roles within the IAF, acknowledged the seriousness of the challenge and offered an interim solution. "As per news reports, the Pakistanis are likely to get 40 aircraft by December this year," he told NDTV. "Nine to ten years is the official figure by the time we could induct AMCA. There is absolutely no doubt that we need to have our own indigenous platform. But as a nation, can we wait ten more years with adversaries on both sides acquiring more and better equipment?" Air Marshal Kapoor advocated for an off-the-shelf acquisition of Russian Sukhoi Su-57 jets in a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, similar to the Rafale deal, to bridge the capability gap. "The Su-57 has a lot of compatibility with our equipment, weapons, radars and other systems," he explained. "And in many parameters, it is better than the F-35. Both these aircraft flew in Aero India. I spoke to certain people who saw both performing. There's no doubt that F-35 is state-of-the-art. But Su-57 ticks more boxes in many ways." Air Marshal Kapoor suggested that such a deal should come with the transfer of technology and coding access to allow the integration of India's own DRDO-developed weapon systems. "With Russian support, we could build on this," he added. "Our aircrew and ground crew, until AMCA is ready, will gain valuable experience. Also, our AMCA design and development teams can draw lessons from operating a fifth-generation fighter in Indian conditions." Group Captain Ahlawat disagreed with this proposition. "I'm sorry. I'm going to completely and absolutely disagree with you," he said. "Transfer of Technology makes sense if we didn't have AMCA. It would make sense if we did not have the technology research cells. But we do." He cited the IAF's prior involvement in the now-aborted FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) programme with Russia, from which India withdrew after evaluating the Su-57's early iterations. "We were part of the Su-57 programme," Ahlawat noted. "We didn't like what we saw. We spent $350 million and we walked away. There is a lot we know about it, and we didn't like it. Russia doesn't have one full operational regiment of Su-57s. They haven't produced what they need for themselves. We're filling the gap before our own homegrown fighter gets airborne. We should go for something proven. It's a bad choice, but among the two bad choices, F-35 is the less bad choice."
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
UK's F-35B plane lands in India, sparking talk of link to Israel-Iran conflict
The emergency landing of a British F-35B stealth fighter in southern India has turned public attention to the deepening defence cooperation between London and New Delhi, with the incident interpreted as a symbol of their growing strategic alignment. Valued at over US$100 million, the hi-tech aircraft was diverted to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala last Saturday following a suspected hydraulic system failure during a routine flight over international waters. The F-35B earlier took off from the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, according to several Indian media reports. The Indian air force coordinated with local air traffic controllers to facilitate an unscheduled landing for the aircraft. Technicians were airlifted by the Royal Navy to carry out repairs on the F-35B, the reports added. Although Thiruvananthapuram has been designated as a diversion airfield for British naval aircraft operating in the region before the incident, the sight of one of the world's most advanced warplanes landing unexpectedly on Indian soil has sparked public speculation. The timing of the incident against the background of worsening tensions in the Middle East has prompted questions of whether it signalled broader defence ties between the UK and India or otherwise. The incident should be seen as a reflection of deepening security cooperation between both countries, rather than a response to the Middle East conflicts, according to analysts.
Hans India
5 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Pakistan To Receive 40 Chinese Stealth Fighters While India's Indigenous Program Faces Decade-Long Wait
China is set to deliver 40 Shenyang J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft to Pakistan, marking a significant shift in South Asian air power dynamics. This development places Pakistan among the select nations operating advanced stealth technology, while India's Air Force continues to operate without any stealth fighters in its current inventory. The delivery timeline suggests Pakistan could have these advanced aircraft operational by December 2025, according to defense analysts. Meanwhile, India's indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program remains at least a decade away from fielding operational units, with official projections indicating full induction around 2035. According to sources, senior Indian Air Force veterans have confirmed that Pakistani pilots have already been training in China for over six months on these aircraft systems. Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat, a retired IAF fighter pilot and defense analyst, noted that the pilot training program had been ongoing well before the official delivery announcement, indicating China's methodical approach to this technology transfer. The aircraft Pakistan will receive is reportedly the FC-31, an export variant of China's J-35 with reduced capabilities compared to the full-specification version used by the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force. This practice aligns with standard international arms export protocols where nations typically provide downgraded versions of their most advanced military equipment to foreign buyers. The development has raised significant concerns within India's defense establishment. The Indian Air Force has historically maintained air superiority over Pakistan through superior pilot training, advanced tactics, and a more diverse aircraft inventory. However, the introduction of stealth technology into Pakistani service threatens to narrow this advantage considerably. Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor, who previously served in key planning positions within the IAF, has suggested pursuing an interim solution to address this capability gap. He advocates for acquiring Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fighters through a government-to-government arrangement, similar to India's previous Rafale acquisition deal. His proposal includes securing technology transfer agreements and coding access to integrate India's domestically developed weapon systems. The Su-57 option presents both advantages and challenges. Proponents argue that Russian systems would offer better compatibility with existing Indian equipment, weapons, and radar systems. Additionally, operating fifth-generation fighters would provide valuable experience for Indian aircrew and ground personnel while the AMCA program continues development. However, not all defense experts support this approach. Critics point to India's previous involvement in the abandoned Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft program with Russia, from which India withdrew after investing approximately $350 million. Concerns about the Su-57's performance capabilities and Russia's limited production capacity for its own air force have influenced this skepticism. Alternative suggestions include considering the American F-35 Lightning II, despite its higher cost and potential technology transfer restrictions. Some analysts view it as a more proven platform with established operational history across multiple air forces worldwide. The AMCA program represents India's long-term solution to achieving fifth-generation fighter capability. Developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with the Air Force and Navy, this twin-engine stealth fighter aims to provide India with an indigenous alternative to foreign systems. The program targets prototype rollout by 2028-29, with full operational capability expected in the mid-2030s. The timing disparity between Pakistan's near-term acquisition and India's long-term development timeline has intensified debates about interim procurement options. Defense analysts emphasize that waiting another decade while regional adversaries enhance their capabilities could compromise India's strategic position. This development occurs within the broader context of evolving regional security dynamics, where both China and Pakistan continue modernizing their military capabilities. The stealth fighter acquisition represents Pakistan's most significant air power enhancement in recent years and could influence tactical considerations across the subcontinent. The situation underscores the challenges facing India's defense procurement and indigenous development strategies. While self-reliance in defense manufacturing remains a national priority, the immediate operational requirements may necessitate difficult decisions about bridging capability gaps through foreign acquisitions. As this technological shift unfolds, it will likely influence regional military planning, defense spending priorities, and strategic partnerships. The introduction of fifth-generation fighter technology into the South Asian theater marks a new chapter in the ongoing regional military competition.
