How Modi government fortified India's air defence and offensive capabilities
In a powerful demonstration of India's fortified air defence and offensive prowess, Operation Sindoor not only neutralised nine terrorist camps deep inside Pakistan and PoK, but also exposed the glaring vulnerabilities of Pakistan's defence setup.Following the preemptive Indian strike, Pakistan attempted to escalate tensions by launching missile attacks on Indian military installations across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Every single missile was intercepted or neutralised. None reached its intended target.advertisementIndia's rapid, coordinated response showcased the strength of its air defence ecosystem, built over the past 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The operation highlighted the seamless integration of key defence assets such as the Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid, S-400 Triumph systems, Barak-8 missiles, Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles, and DRDO's anti-drone technologies.
India didn't just defend—it struck back. Operation Sindoor saw Indian Armed Forces retaliate with precision, destroying a Pakistani HQ-9 air defence unit in Lahore and damaging key radar infrastructure.DECADE OF STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESSThis level of readiness is the result of a decade-long strategic build-up. Since 2014, the Modi government has steadily strengthened India's air defence architecture.Notable developments include:The Rs 35,000 crore deal for five S-400 Triumph squadrons, signed in 2018. Three squadrons are now operational along the Western and Northern borders.The $2.5 billion agreement with Israel in 2017 for Barak-8 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MR-SAM), which now actively guard frontline bases.Indigenous Akash missile batteries and DRDO-developed counter-drone systems, bolstering self-reliance in defence.Man-Portable Counter Drone Systems (MPCDS), installed in 2024, to jam and disable hostile UAVs.RISE OF INDIAN TECH IN MODERN WARFAREadvertisementOperation Sindoor also marked a turning point in India's use of indigenous military technology. Loitering munitions—suicidal drones ordered in 2021 and manufactured domestically—executed simultaneous, precision strikes, catching Pakistani defences off-guard.Israeli-origin Harop drones, now built in India, targeted and destroyed key air defence assets in Karachi and Lahore. The strategic deployment of Rafale fighter jets equipped with SCALP and HAMMER missiles further reinforced India's offensive edge, delivering deep strikes with surgical accuracy.The Modi government's approach to defence has not been about flashy one-offs—it has been about building a resilient, multi-layered ecosystem.India now operates a tech-driven airspace defence network capable of detecting, jamming, and eliminating threats before they breach.Tune InMust Watch
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The Hindu
28 minutes ago
- The Hindu
India's next goal is to be among world's top defence exporters, says PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (June 6, 202%) said Operation Sindoor demonstrated the strength of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), and pledged to make India one of world's top defence exporters. 'Today, the world is recognising India's defence ecosystem,' Mr. Modi said in his speech at Udhampur's Katra. Mr. Modi said India had emerged as a leading defence exporter over the past decade, and 'the next goal is to position India among the world's top defence exporters'. 'The faster India moves towards this objective, the more employment opportunities will be generated nationwide, benefiting millions,' he said. 'Choose products made in India' The Prime Minister said that just as the nation honoured its armed forces on the borders, it must also uphold the pride of 'Made in India' in the market, ensuring that India's strength is reflected in both defence and commerce. He said the recent military success was due to the armed forces' trust in 'Make in India'. 'Every Indian must now emulate their commitment. The Mission Manufacturing initiative, announced in this year's budget, was aimed at accelerating India's manufacturing sector,' he said. He called upon young innovators and entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir to join this mission. 'India needs their modern thinking, innovation, ideas, and skills to elevate national security and economic growth,' he added. Calling upon every Indian to make a commitment to prioritise products made in India, Mr. Modi said that these goods are a true reflection of the hard work and dedication of fellow citizens. 'Choosing Indian-made products is the real service to the nation, strengthening the economy and empowering workers,' he added.
NDTV
30 minutes ago
- NDTV
"What Drama... They Are On A Firing Spree": BJP MP After Bengaluru Tragedy
Calling the spree of suspensions in the wake of Bengaluru stampede deaths "drama", BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Friday hinted that scapegoating has taken place and accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Deputy DK Shivakumar of evading responsibility. Eleven people died in a crowd crush outside M Chinnaswamy stadium, as tens of thousands turned up to cheer Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this week. "What drama is this? An honest police officer who is actually known for his integrity, as very few of such people remaining in the system these days, he is suspended. RCB is being hounded. And the political secretary of the chief minister, who advised him to not go ahead with the celebrations, is now sacked," Tejasvi Survya, Bengaluru South MP who is in the US as part of the multi-party delegation carrying India's Operation Sindoor message, told NDTV. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayanand, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's political secretary K Govindaraj and head of the information department, Hemant Nimbalkar, are among those who have been suspended since Wednesday, the day of the tragedy. Earlier today, four people, including the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Marketing Head and DNA Event Management Company staffers, were arrested. "The two people who are primarily responsible for what happened are the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister and to save their own skin, they are going about on a firing spree, starting from the police commissioner to the RCB head, to his own political secretary," said Mr Surya. The BJP MP cited the example of Sacha Baron Cohen movie, "The Dictator", to drive home the point. "If you remember this movie Borat. You know, this The Dictator from Kazakhstan - left, right and center - he keeps firing everybody, you know, to suit his political whim. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar appear to be like the dictator from Borat movie at least today," said Mr Surya. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has criticised the BJP for politicising the stampede. His remarks came after the BJP accused the Congress-led state government of making the police a "scapegoat" in the incident. Mr Surya said the Chief Minister invited people for the celebration, but accused him of failing to make arrangements. "So, you invite lakhs of people, you don't make arrangements, you do not take care of protocols to be put in place. You bring your entire extended family to stand on the stage along with these cricketers, take selfies, hog the limelight, snatch the trophy from their hand and hold it high up as though you have actually earned it. And then when all hell breaks loose, you go about on a firing spree to save your skin," said Mr Surya. "This is a joke that is being played. Look at the way DK Shiv Kumar has posed with the IPL Cup. Honestly, what has he done to achieve it? In the last 18 years, what has CM Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar done to support the local cricketing talent in Karnataka? What have they done to partake undeservingly in this glory of RCB's victory?" he further asked. The Bengaluru South MP spotlighted that it is not some counter-terrorism operation where you need specific intelligence inputs, hinting at the lack of planning for the event. "This is not a failure that can be, you know, attributed to lack of intelligence input. It is a failure because of natural stupidity of Shivakumar and Chief Minister. This is not a lack of intelligence inputs from the police commissioner," he said. "Any person who has a reasonable sense of how things go will anticipate that if the state government, starting with the Chief Minister, gives an open invitation for a grand celebration on the steps of Vidhan Sauda, people are bound to come in lakhs and lakhs of numbers. You don't need an IPS officer or an intelligence chief of the state police to tell you that lakhs of people will turn up, that there is going to be an emotional frenzy. And if you don't realise it, it speaks volumes of your stupidity and you don't have a right to hold public office if this is your intellectual ability of comprehension," he said. The MP cited the case of the 2024 T20 World Cup victory celebration in Mumbai to draw a contrast between the two events. "And I have a question to ask. It's not the first time that celebrations of this kind have been arranged in this country. After we won the World Cup, there was a huge parade that was organised in Mumbai. Close to 15-16 lakh people participated in it. Not a single untoward incident took place. Because it was well-managed, well-planned, well-organised," he said. "This is extremely unfortunate. This was an avoidable but man-made, man-created. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah created the tragedy," he said further.
Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
'I'll tell you why not': Shashi Tharoor snubs Trump's mediation claim over ceasefire
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