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News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
India honours senior military officers who planned, executed Op Sindoor
New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) India on Thursday recognised the acts of gallantry by the armed forces personnel and the role of senior military brass involved in the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor in its annual list of military honours on the eve of 79th Independence Day. Nine Indian Air Force pilots involved in the precision strikes on terror infrastructure and military installations in Pakistan were conferred Vir Chakra, the third highest wartime gallantry awards after the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra. One pilot was named for Shaurya Chakra. IAF personnel manning the S-400 air defence systems during the May 7-10 military conflict were also among those conferred the coveted awards. A total of 20 pilots and six other IAF personnel were named for the Vayu Sena medal. Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Indian Army's DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai and Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma are among top military officers named for Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal. Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor and Air Marshal Jeetendra Misra, heading the South Western Air Command and the Western Air Command respectively, have also been conferred Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal. The two Indian Air Force (IAF) commands played a major role targeting terror infrastructures in Pakistan that included Markaz Taiba of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Muridke, Markaz Subhan Allah of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Bahawalpur and Hizbul Mujahideen's Mehmoona Joya Facility in Sialkot. Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, who as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of Western Naval Command, played a critical role in deployment of naval assets following the Pahalgam attack, has also been named for Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal. Singh retired from service last month. Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, who also played a major role in finalising the Navy's deployment strategy in the aftermath of the Pahalgam strike, has been conferred Uttam Yudh Seva medal. A notable name in the list of awardees is Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti. As the Director General of Air Operations (DGAO), he played an important role during Operation Sindoor. He was subsequently appointed as Deputy Chief of Air Staff. The recipients of the Vir Chakra included Group Captains Ranjit Singh Sidhu, Manish Arora, Animesh Patni and Kunal Kalra. Wing Commander Joy Chandra, Squadron Leaders Sarthak Kumar, Siddhant Singh, Rizwan Malik, and Flight Lieutenant A S Thakur were also honoured with Vir Chakra. The lone Shaurya Chakra award winner is Wing Commander Abhimanyu Singh. In total, IAF personnel received four Sarvottam Yudh Seva medals, five Uttam Yudh Seva medals, nine Vir Chakras, one Shaurya Chakra, 13 Yudh Seva medal, 26 Vayu Sena medals and 162 Mentions-in-Despatches for Operation Sindoor. Vayu Sena medal winner Group Captain Omar Browne is son of former IAF chief NAK Browne. Another Vayu Sena medal winner, Squadron Leader Mihir Vivek Chaudhari is the son of former Chief of Air Staff V R Chaudhari. President Droupadi Murmu approved 127 Gallantry awards and 40 Distinguished Service awards to the armed forces and central armed police forces personnel on the eve of Independence Day. These include four Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 58 Sena Medals (Gallantry), six Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and 26 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). The Kirti Chakra awardees are Capt Lalrinawma Salio from 4 Para, Lt Shashank Tiwari from the Army Service Corps, Lance Naik Meenatchi Sundarama from the 34 Rashtriya Rifles and Sepoy Pravin Prabhakar of 1 Rashtriya Rifles. Kirti Chakra is the second-highest peacetime gallantry award. The awards also included seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva medals, nine Uttam Yudh Seva medals and 24 Yudh Seva medals. The President has also approved 290 Mention-in-Despatches, of which 115 are from the Indian Army, five from the Indian Navy, and 167 are from the Indian Air Force. PTI MPB KVK KVK (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 14, 2025, 23:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
India awards senior military officers who planned, executed Op Sindoor
India on Thursday recognised the acts of gallantry by the armed forces personnel and the role of senior military brass involved in the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor in its annual list of military honours on the eve of 79th Independence Day. Indian Air Force pilots involved in the strikes on terror infrastructure and military installations in Pakistan as well as those manning the S-400 air defence systems, which played a critical role during the May 7 to 10 hostilities between the two countries were among those conferred the coveted awards. Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Indian Army's DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai and Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma are among top military officers conferred Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal. Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor and Air Marshal Jeetendra Misra, heading the South Western Air Command and the Western Air Command respectively have also been conferred Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal. Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, who as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of Western Naval Command, played a critical role in deployment of naval assets following the Pahalgam attack, has also been named for Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal. Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, who also played a major role in finalising the Navy's deployment strategy in the aftermath of the Pahalgam strike, has been conferred Uttam Yudh Seva medal. As many as nine fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force have been conferred prestigious Vayu Chakra. President Droupadi Murmu approved 127 Gallantry awards and 40 Distinguished Service awards to the armed forces and central armed police forces personnel on the eve of Independence Day. These include four Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 58 Sena Medals (Gallantry), six Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and 26 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). The awards also included seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals, nine Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 24 Yudh Seva Medals. The President has also approved 290 Mention-in-Despatches, out of which 115 are from the Indian Army, five from the Indian Navy, and 167 are from the Indian Air Force.
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
India awards senior military officers who planned, executed Op Sindoor
New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) India on Thursday recognised the acts of gallantry by the armed forces personnel and the role of senior military brass involved in the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor in its annual list of military honours on the eve of 79th Independence Day. Indian Air Force pilots involved in the strikes on terror infrastructure and military installations in Pakistan as well as those manning the S-400 air defence systems, which played a critical role during the May 7 to 10 hostilities between the two countries were among those conferred the coveted awards. Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Indian Army's DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai and Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma are among top military officers conferred Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal. Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor and Air Marshal Jeetendra Misra, heading the South Western Air Command and the Western Air Command respectively have also been conferred Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal. Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, who as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of Western Naval Command, played a critical role in deployment of naval assets following the Pahalgam attack, has also been named for Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal. Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, who also played a major role in finalising the Navy's deployment strategy in the aftermath of the Pahalgam strike, has been conferred Uttam Yudh Seva medal. President Droupadi Murmu approved 127 Gallantry awards and 40 Distinguished Service awards to the armed forces and central armed police forces personnel on the eve of Independence Day. These include four Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 58 Sena Medals (Gallantry), six Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and 26 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). The awards also included seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals, nine Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 24 Yudh Seva Medals. The President has also approved 290 Mention-in-Despatches, out of which 115 are from the Indian Army, five from the Indian Navy, and 167 are from the Indian Air Force. PTI MPB KVK KVK view comments First Published: August 14, 2025, 20:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Print
03-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Did we lose aircraft? Should we admit it? When? Answering questions raised by CDS' admission
This has led to a very public, very vociferous, and occasionally very acrimonious debate on the subject. The questions being debated are: Did we lose aircraft? If we did, should we admit it? If yes, how soon? Does losing more aircraft than the other side mean a tactical defeat? There were oblique references to losses in air combat on 6/7 May, during a briefing by the DG Air Ops (Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti). However, this remark by the CDS—although he declined to give exact numbers—would count as the first official admission of our own attrition in the air. There has been much kolaveri over the remarks made by CDS General Anil Chauhan. While speaking to Bloomberg TV on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the Chief of Defence Staff admitted to certain losses of Indian aircraft during Operation Sindoor. This has set the proverbial cat among the pigeons. Accusations and accolades are both flying thick and fast. The losses and the analysis In all likelihood, we did lose some aircraft. The exact number and the causes would be revealed by the Indian Air Force (IAF), should they choose to. All losses are studied in great detail. The IAF would be examining everything—from tactics, network synergy, weapon load, and rules of engagement to crew training. Which weapon caused the damage—whether surface-to-air or air-to-air—will form a part of that analysis. The possibility of friendly fire will also be examined. While the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) claimed it downed six Indian aircraft, they have failed to provide any evidence other than a sleazy presentation and social media posts. The PAF claims all 'kills' were air-to-air and credits the Chinese-made PL15 BVR missile. However, that may not be the case, considering a few of the PL 15s were found almost intact in our territory. A missile that fails to self-destruct at the end of its cruise phase is certainly not the 'best in the world' as claimed by our adversary. Their claims are speculative. At this stage, they are not aware which of their tactics-weapon combinations worked and which did not. Therefore, it does not make tactical and operational sense to clear this confusion for them by revealing our losses, if any. In my opinion, the citizen has a vested right to know. That includes accurate information on how well or poorly our armed forces performed in war. However, that right is tempered with caution and is measured against the needs of national security, which takes precedence over all rights. Hopefully, when the dust finally settles on this episode, we will receive all the information. Also read: India paid for ignoring warnings in 1965 war. It can't afford to repeat those mistakes today Attrition in air warfare For people not familiar with the planning and structuring of an air campaign against a peer competitor, the loss of our own aircraft might come as a surprise. However, despite advances in weaponry and sensors, air forces around the world cater for attrition in air war, especially in the early hours, when you fly into a hornet's nest. The first wave of airstrikes during Operation Sindoor was carried out under some very exacting circumstances. Our strikers were operating under very restrictive rules of engagements, against an adversary that was pre-warned and well-armed. SEAD and DEAD missions that typically form the first phase of any air campaign were not carried out, as per the larger political directive limiting strikes to terror infrastructure and avoiding military targets. Surprise, a factor that usually favours the raiders, was missing in this case. On the other hand, the PAF flung a technical surprise on us by launching data-linked BVR missiles at extreme ranges. As admitted by the CDS, the IAF was quick to draw lessons and went back up in air in the subsequent days. Some have misunderstood or even deliberately misconstrued the CDS's statement to mean that after incurring losses on the first day, the IAF was grounded for two days. Nothing could be further from the truth. While the tactics were being reviewed and electronic threat libraries were being updated, India maintained pressure on terrorist infrastructure in PoK. Limited strikes by Rafale and BrahMos-armed Su-30s were carried out on 8/9 May. Air defence combat air patrols (AD CAP) were maintained in the air around the clock, and backup missions were ready on the ground. An aggressive posture was maintained by our surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), threatening aerial activity deep inside Pakistan. The Indian military also had to contend with non-stop drone attacks on multiple locations, most of which were foiled. Dedicated SEAD/DEAD missions were undertaken on 8/9 May to degrade Pakistan's ability to defend its airspace. Based on political directions, escalation was controlled and some room was created to give Pakistan an off-ramp- DGMO (India) offered Pakistan an exit option, which was declined. In response to Pakistan's launch of Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos on 10 May, the IAF conducted retaliatory precision strikes on multiple targets across the length and breadth of Pakistan. The damage caused by the IAF's air-delivered munitions was seen by the entire world, courtesy of the satellite images that were widely shared. The IAF rose to challenge the PAF's hubris with an updated game plan. Electronics were tweaked, formations were rearranged, weapons were matched to the targets, and the IAF was not constrained by any restrictive ROE. The orders were clear: shoot to kill. The much-touted J10C and PL15 combo failed to bring down any of our jets. These aircraft were operating deep inside Pakistan's airspace and failed to launch even a single BVR, which just a day prior had been celebrated as a 300-km-long stick. Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos collapsed within eight hours on 10 May due to India's counterstrikes, which destroyed Pakistani morale besides destroying their assets. Pakistan sought a ceasefire through US mediation. Also read: Fund Kaveri Engine campaign is more than a hashtag. India needs control over its fighter jets Counting wins, not losses In a war, you count your wins by counting missions that were successful and not by counting damaged assets. Certain historical events corroborate this argument. The Israeli Air Force (IsAF) was pitted against the combined air power of Egypt and Syria in the Yom Kippur War (October 6–25, 1973). Although the Arabs had a greater number of aircraft, Israel enjoyed a significant technical edge in air power. The IsAF was also considered to be better trained, as it frequently exercised with Western air forces. Despite these advantages, the IsAF's losses in the first 12 hours were staggering: thirty A-4s, six Phantoms, and four Super Mystères were downed. The IsAF decided on an operational pause, took a hard look at its tactics, revised them, and went up again. The IsAF adjusted its tactics to minimise exposure to SAMs and anti-aircraft artillery. Dedicated SEAD/DEAD missions were flown, occasionally in coordination with ground-based artillery fire. In the following days, the IsAF gained and maintained control of the air. The outcome of the war is a well-known historical fact, and the crucial role played by the IsAF is also widely acknowledged. This example, along with the employment of Indian air power during Operation Sindoor, proves a point: despite the great care taken during planning, attrition in air war is unavoidable. These examples also tell us that an eventual victory is decided not merely by tallying losses incurred on both sides but by comparing mission success rates. In sum, wars are dirty business. Despite all the advances achieved by mankind, wars remain a primordial contest. Modern weapons have changed the face of war but not the nature of war. In wars, equipment will be damaged, and lives will be lost. Victory, however, will be measured against the degree to which the objectives—or 'conditions of termination'—set forth before the campaign were achieved. In that regard, Operation Sindoor was a resounding victory for Indian air power. Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat is a retired IAF fighter pilot. He tweets @Ahlawat2012. Views are personal. (Edited by Prashant)
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor sparks boom in Patriotic merchandise: 'Not just a style but a statement of pride'
Thanks to Operation Sindoor, patriotism seems to have found a new, wearable expression. As buildings across the country lit up in the Tricolour and rallies voiced support for the Armed Forces, fashion too joined the movement. T-shirts with powerful quotes from military briefings – especially those by Director General Military Operations (DGMO) have become a symbol of national pride, and e-shoppers are flocking to buy them Wearing the spirit of patriotism Capitalising on the public sentiment, merchandise companies have released collections centred on Operation Sindoor and other impactful quotes from the media briefings. Bold typography, camouflage accents, and military insignias adorn many designs, with stock running out within hours. This isn't the first time fashion has saluted the forces. A previous Indian infantry collection co-created by cricketer Virat Kohli saw a similar patriotic response, underscoring the growing connection between national pride and wearable statements. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 1&2 BHK Homes @Dosti™ Nest starts ₹56.5 L+* Dosti Realty Learn More Undo The social media surge The popularity of these T-shirts has been amplified by social media platforms often accompanied by hashtags like #OperationSindoor and #SaluteToSoldiers. Memes, reels, and fan art celebrating the armed forces have further fuelled the trend, turning fashion into a medium of patriotic expression. For the average citizen, these T-shirts and other accessories carry with them a message of unity, resilience, and unwavering support for the Armed Forces. The message that struck the nation One quote, in particular, captured national attention: 'Our job is to hit targets, not count body bags.' Delivered by Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Director General (Air Operations) of the Indian Air Force, during a post-operation briefing, the quote summed up the precision and professionalism of India's military response. A merchandise company that featured it on a T-shirt saw the design go viral almost instantly. 'No longer a campaign, a movement' 'Operation Sindoor is no longer just a campaign—it's a movement,' says Karan Sehdev, founder of a merchandise company. 'People want to express their pride meaningfully.' Alongside T-shirts, hoodies, he mentions that caps, flags, mugs, and badges are also gaining popularity. 'Customisation requests have included unit names, tags with uplifting messages, and regional scripts alongside national slogans. Many buyers now ask for eco-friendly fabrics and biodegradable packaging, blending sustainability with patriotism,' says Karan. Who's buying the T-shirts The buyers? Mostly patriotic Indians aged 18 to 45. 'College students, young professionals, and people who actively follow national developments make up the bulk of our orders,' says Abhi, founder of a customised T-shirt brand, adding, "For many, this isn't just fashion—it's a wayto make a statement and support the military through what they wear." Bhavani Ramesh, who runs another personalised apparel store, says, 'We've received several orders—not tied to any single quote, but to the sentiment of the campaign. College groups and even a media house have placed bulk orders.' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
