What are SEAD, loitering munitions? Key terms to decode India-Pak standoff

Business Standard

08-05-2025

Tensions between India and Pakistan have surged to their highest levels in years following the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, which left 26 dead.
In a decisive response, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday (May 7). The Indian armed forces conducted a series of precision strikes targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India called these actions "focused, measured, and deliberately non-escalatory", aiming to hold the perpetrators accountable while avoiding direct attacks on Pakistani military facilities.
In the midst of this high-stakes standoff, official statements and media briefings are saturated with technical military jargon, making it challenging for the public to fully grasp the unfolding events. To help decode the language shaping this crisis, here's a primer on the technical terms being frequently used by both sides. These definitions aim to clarify the strategic concepts and operational buzzwords dominating the headlines.
1. SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defences)
Meaning: SEAD missions aim to destroy or disable the enemy's air defence systems (like surface-to-air missile launchers or radar sites) so that friendly aircraft can operate safely.
Example: Before launching a deep airstrike into enemy territory, the Indian Air Force might send aircraft equipped with anti-radiation missiles to knock out Pakistani radars and missile batteries — this is a SEAD operation. On Thursday, India confirmed that it conducted SEAD/DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defences) operations to weaken Pakistan's air defences.
2. Off-ramp
Meaning: An "off-ramp" refers to a diplomatic or strategic option that allows one or both sides to exit the conflict without appearing to have lost. It's a way to de-escalate tensions while saving face.
Example: After the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, Pakistan released a captured Indian pilot, which acted as an off-ramp, easing tensions and preventing further escalation.
3. Escalation
Meaning: Escalation is the process of increasing the intensity of a conflict, either by using more force, expanding targets, or involving new weapons systems.
Example: If the conflict starts with artillery shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) and then progresses to airstrikes on military bases deep inside each other's territory, that's an escalation.
4. De-escalation
Meaning: This is the opposite of escalation. It means reducing the intensity of the conflict, either through a ceasefire, diplomatic talks, or mutual military pullbacks.
Example: Both armies agreeing to halt cross-border firing and beginning talks at the diplomatic level is a form of de-escalation.
5. Escalation ladder
Meaning: The "escalation ladder" is a conceptual model coined by American physicist Herman Kahn. This describes how a conflict can increase in stages -- from low-intensity engagements (like border skirmishes) to high-intensity warfare (like missile strikes or nuclear threats).
Example:
Step 1: Troop movement near the border
Step 2: Artillery shelling
Step 3: Airstrikes
Step 4: Missile deployment
Step 5: Nuclear posturing
Each step up the ladder represents a more serious and dangerous stage of escalation.
6. Loitering munitions
Meaning: These are a type of drone or weapon that can "wait" in the air over a target area and attack when the opportunity arises. They are also called "suicide drones" because they destroy themselves when they hit the target.