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India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
India vs Pakistan: The battle for air superiority
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated June 9, 2025)As the dust settles over the India-Pakistan conflict—triggered by India's missile strikes on nine terrorist hubs in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province in response to the Islamabad-sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April—it is time for a reckoning of how the two adversaries fared. Uniquely, over four intense, dramatic days (May 7-10), the theatre of war was the skies on either side of the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border. Airpower was the key factor, manifested not in the dogfights of yore, but their modern equivalent, comprising precise strikes, electronic warfare and smart coordination between aircraft, ground radars and airborne early warning and control system (AEW&CS)/ Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. Drones and missiles were used aplenty by Pakistan, and India's multi-layered air defence (AD) system rose to the occasion like never before. According to the Indian Army, its air defence units neutralised nearly 800-900 Pakistani drones during Operation early on May 7, the Pakistani air defence had no immediate answer to the loitering munitions/ kamikaze drones, and SCALP/ Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles and HAMMER bombs fired from the Rafales of the Indian Air Force (IAF) that destroyed the terrorist camps, the Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) J-10CEs, F-16s and JF-17 fighter jets did pose a threat. Indeed, Pakistan has claimed—without definitive proof or explicit acknowledgement from India—that several Indian jets were lost. Significantly, wary of each other's missiles, particularly those launched beyond visual range (BVR), both forces operated well within their respective air space. However, on May 8 and 10, after Indian missile and drone strikes took out vital Pakistani air defence radars in Lahore and Karachi—one precious PAF AWACS was reportedly lost too—its air defence systems were rendered toothless, largely driving the PAF from the skies. So, after Pakistan targeted Indian air bases and military installations with drones and missiles on May 9 and 10—almost all of which were intercepted and shot to pieces—it was helpless before India's retaliatory barrage of SCALP and BrahMos supersonic missiles, fired by aircraft and from the ground on eight Pakistani air bases, including the Nur Khan base near Rawalpindi, the general headquarters of the Pakistan army. Thus chastened, Pakistan is said to have called for a Sindoor was a demonstration of Indian precision and reach, and showcased India's capability to strike any target in Pakistan at will. Frank O'Donnell, senior research adviser at the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network and non-resident fellow at the Stimson Center, says that it signals India's ability for precision strikes on targets within each base and suggests its implicit capacity to incapacitate these bases if desired. 'The very short flight time of India's air-to-ground missiles, and especially its reported use of the supersonic BrahMos, leveraged the continuing challenge for Pakistan of operationalising missile defence systems and the extreme difficulty of blocking cruise missile strikes. However, this challenge is also shared by India,' he says. OPPOSING AIR WARRIORSThough in recent decades India has held a qualitative and numerical advantage in air superiority over Pakistan, the latter's acquisition of sophisticated Chinese aircraft has led analysts to suggest that the technological disparity is India's frontline fighter jets, the Mirage 2000H, armed with the Thales RDY radar (range: 100-130 km) and MICA missiles (both beyond visual range or BVR and short range or SR, with a reach of 60-80 km), excels in precision strikes but has an ageing airframe. The MiG-29UPG, with Zhuk-ME radar (range: 120 km) and R-77 missiles (BVR, with a range of 80-100 km) is agile, but lags in networking. The Su-30MKI, equipped with a Bars PESA radar (or a Passive Electronically Scanned Array radar with a 200 km range) and BrahMos missiles, offers long-range strike capability but has a large radar cross-section, meaning it can be detected by enemy radars. The Rafale has an RBE2 AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar and SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, which ensures data fusion across electromagnetic, laser and infrared domains to protect it from threats. Both PESA and AESA radars can track multiple targets at once. The Rafale, armed with Meteor and SCALP missiles and HAMMER precision-guided munition, is India's most advanced jet, but its small fleet size limits the other side, Pakistan's Chinese J-10C fighters, armed with PL-15E BVR missiles, and equipped with dual-pulse motors and AESA seekers, mounted a challenge for the IAF. The J-10CE's AESA radar and its integration with Saab 2000 Erieye AEWC enables long-range engagements, while the JF-17's KLJ-7A radar is less capable but still effective with networked Sindoor drew global attention to a possible aerial duel between the Rafale and J-10C fighters—both 4.5-generation multirole fighters. 'Rafale is a proven platform, as it has been used in combat in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria, while J-10 C has not seen any combat,' says a key IAF aviation experts claim that Pakistan's J-10C, manufactured by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, lags behind the Rafale, made by the French firm Dassault, in armament. The J-10C has 11 hardpoints (mounting points to carry weapons) and a six-tonne load capacity. The Rafale has 14 hardpoints and a nine-tonne capacity, including nuclear-capable munitions. The Rafale's 24-tonne take-off weight exceeds the J-10C's 19 tonnes, offering greater payload flexibility, though the J-10C reaches a higher 18,000-metre ceiling, compared to the Rafale's 16,000 metres. The J-10C excels in high-altitude performance; the Rafale dominates in versatility and range. Experts say that the Rafale holds a slight edge in terms of sensor fusion and missile performance. However, uncertainty persists over Pakistan's unverified claims of downing Indian jets, including evidence does not confirm that a Rafale was downed by a J-10C-fired PL-15E missile. However, the loss of at least one Rafale demands an urgent review of technical and tactical vulnerabilities,' notes O'Donnell. He adds that Pakistan and China have valuable combat data about western aircraft, aiding their fighter modernisation, while Pakistan's swift acquisition of Chinese platforms outpaces India's sluggish defence procurement, exacerbating the IAF's declining squadron analyst Shreyas Deshmukh, research associate at the Delhi Policy Group, says that the Rafale vs J-10C comparison reflects a contest for battlefield superiority, given their similar capabilities. Though debris, including PL-15E remnants and possible MICA missile fragments from an IAF jet, were reportedly recovered, Deshmukh asserts that 'no concrete evidence supports claims of aerial losses on either side'. INDIA'S AIR DEFENCE EDGEadvertisementFor India, the real positive to have emerged from Operation Sindoor is the overwhelming success of its integrated air defence system. The two units that synergised perfectly to nullify all projectiles hurled at India are the IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and the army's Akashteer. The IACCS is an automated command and control system that integrates data at its control centres from air defence assets like ground-based radar, airborne sensors, AWACS/ AEW&CS, communication nodes and IAF command and control centres. The consolidated data along with real-time updates gives commanders of air defence units an overall situational awareness and full battlefield picture to respond to incoming aerial threats. Similarly, the army's Akashteer is an air defence control and reporting system comprising radars and sensors that are connected to units of its air the integration of the resources of IACCS and Akashteer, the Indian air defence threw up a layered grid. The first layer comprises counter drone systems like D4 and MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defence Systems) like Igla-M and Igla-S, while the second layer has low-level air defence (LLAD) guns like Bofors L-70 and ZSU-23-4 Schilka self-propelled system, and short-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) like Pechora, Tunguska and OSA-AK. The third and fourth layers have medium- and long-range SAMs like Pechora, SPYDER, the indigenous Akash and the long-range S-400 Triumf and Barak-8 missile defence systems. India's counter-unmanned aerial system (UAS) technologies also played a major role in detecting and neutralising Pakistani drones. This multi-layered air defence network not only protected Indian air bases, army installations, airports and cities, but also protected Amritsar's Golden Temple from a Pakistani drone and missile attack. In contrast, Pakistan's Chinese HQ-9 and HQ-16 air defence systems failed to detect and intercept the devastating Indian strikes on its air bases on May 10. Early on May 10, Indian strikes took out a Chinese-made LY80 air defence system using a Harpy kamikaze drone at Lahore, while a missile destroyed an HQ-9 system in Karachi. Comparative analysis also suggests that the S-400 surpasses the HQ-9 in performance. 'India's multi-layered air defence systems exhibited greater effectiveness in deployment and integration than their Pakistani counterparts,' a key defence official said. Defence analysts say that for the past two decades, as a probable counter to India's Cold Start Doctrine, which envisages short, swift strikes into Pakistan that would avoid a nuclear escalation, Pakistan has been buying mostly offensive weaponry. 'In contrast, India's strategic focus was on technological advancement and indigenous production, leading to investments in radars such as the ADTCR, Ashwini and Indra (electronically scanned array radars), sensor processing systems, jamming devices, and electronic warfare systems, including drone jammers as well as counter-battery radars,' says Deshmukh. The development of missile systems such as BrahMos and Akash, coupled with the timely procurement of the S-400, has provided India with a significant advantage in non-contact warfare, he adds. Thus, Pakistan's investment in offensive weapons lays bare its weak air defence capabilities, leaving its command and control the conflict reaffirmed that modern warfare is driven by air power, not merely in terms of aircraft but through sensors, missiles, data networks, electronic warfare and unmanned systems. 'Operation Sindoor is a testimony to the power of a capable air force,' notes a senior defence analyst. 'But no country can win future wars without continuous investment in modern air platforms and integrated defence networks.' Despite its strong showing, experts argue that India must not become complacent. The IAF's thinning squadron strength and the slow induction of next-gen air dominance fighters leave gaps that adversaries may exploit in the to India Today MagazineMust Watch
News18
2 days ago
- General
- News18
From Pakistan To Naxals, Modi 3.0 Is All Action, No Ambiguity On National Security
Last Updated: PM Modi has reinforced India's national security doctrine with decisive, outcome-oriented action. It has been exactly one year of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term. At 74, with elections behind him and a clear mandate in hand, Modi has set out to shape his legacy – anchored firmly in one message: national security is non-negotiable. PM Modi has reinforced India's national security doctrine with decisive, outcome-oriented action. From launching Operation Sindoor to deporting illegal immigrants and crushing Naxal terror, Modi has abandoned strategic restraint in favour of strategic clarity – making it clear that India's security is not up for negotiation. A Steely Doctrine – Hardening With Time At the core of Modi's popularity is his unwavering stance on national security. Even as Gujarat's chief minister, he had declared that Pakistan must be 'answered in its own language" – criticising the then UPA government's muted response to terrorism. Since then, India has undergone a strategic transformation. It started with ' Ghar mein ghus ke maarna" – and evolved into a hardened national doctrine. In 2016, after the Uri terror attack by Lashkar-e-Taiba that killed 18 Indian soldiers, India responded with surgical strikes across the LoC. In 2019, after the Pulwama terror attack by Jaish-e-Mohammad killed over 40 CRPF personnel, India launched airstrikes on Jaish camps in Balakot—deep inside Pakistan. Operation Sindoor: Changing the Rules In a four-day conflict with Pakistan, India launched an 88-hour offensive, striking 9 terror targets and 11 airbases across Pakistan using armed drones, SCALP and Hammer missiles, and the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. This wasn't just military retaliation – it was the unshackling of India's old doctrine. For the first time, Pakistan's military became a legitimate target of anti-terror strikes. Pakistan's true colours – known to India for long – were exposed globally when it came out to defend and then avenge its terrorist groups that faced a beating from Indian bombs. Pakistan's military put its existence on the line for the terrorists, it attended their funerals and gave them assurances for protection and reconstruction — the secret was out. The act was over. If India wanted to fight terror, it must strike Pakistan's military and that it did. 11 airbases, several other air defence and radar sites, and Pakistani posts along the LoC — India acted with impunity and Pakistan was left scrambling — exposed and vulnerable. Now, the doctrine is permanently set in stone. As long as Pakistan sponsors terror, its terror and military targets are one and the same. Its nuclear blackmail will not be tolerated. And it cannot take the Indus water flow for granted. No treaties, no negotiations, no one-sided goodwill gestures. Pakistan will reap exactly what it sows. With this, the rules of the game have been changed. And given the direction India is headed under Modi, this doctrine is only going to grow stronger, harder and more effective. India Declares Final War on Red Terror 'If the Challenge is Tough, the Solution Will Be Tougher". This motto doesn't apply only to foreign enemies. Modi 3.0 is also wielding its iron resolve against internal threats—starting with India's decades-old left-wing insurgency which India has vowed to eliminate entirely by March 31st, 2026. The 58-year-old Naxal insurgency, once a dominant force across a 'Red Corridor" stretching over 182 districts and nearly 40 per cent of India's landmass in 2013, is now reduced to just 18 districts. Recently, India scored its biggest breakthrough in years—the killing of Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju, the supreme commander of the CPI (Maoist), in a 50-hour encounter. Trained by the LTTE, Basavaraju was known for brutal IED attacks and ambushes, and was responsible for over 150 security personnel deaths. Over 30 Maoists were eliminated, including Basavaraju. Significantly, this mission involved the District Reserve Guard of Chhattisgarh, comprising surrendered Naxals—proof that the ideological tide has turned. India's approach has been four-pronged: modern warfare tactics, relentless counter-Naxal operations, choking off funding and arms, and moving in with development schemes and governance. The push for road and internet connectivity, elections, and financial inclusion has made a real difference. Democracy is being delivered till the last mile – and with that, Naxalism is being bled of its oxygen. Dealing with Illegal Immigration National security in Modi 3.0 isn't just about warfare – it's about protecting India's demographic and territorial integrity. Since Operation Sindoor alone, that is, in less than a month, India has deported more than 2000 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The strategy is simple: verify their foreign status, and send them packing. Hundreds have been transported on airplanes and trains to the Bangladesh border, where they are instructed to simply return to their homeland. The process is swift: identification, transportation to border camps, and repatriation via BSF – all often within hours. No court hearings. According to a source cited in an Indian Express report, 'the illegal immigrants are being ferried to the borders in IAF aircraft from various locations and handed over to the BSF to be held in makeshift camps along the border. They are provided food and some Bangladeshi currency, if needed, and 'pushed back" into their country after a few hours of detention." Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and the Bangladesh bordering states – Assam and Meghalaya are the states that are involved in this exercise so far. The success of this operation is hinged on a simple principle. Once rounded up, most illegal immigrants prefer to return safely rather than be detained and go through legal battles. But there are challenges ahead, as the number of deportations grow, Bangladesh is expected to resist this measure. In fact, there is already some pushback. Brigadier General Md. Nazim-ud-Daula, director of the Military Operations Directorate of the Bangladesh Army, said at a press conference in Dhaka that 'push-ins are unacceptable". But for now he says, 'BGB is managing well, within international protocols." Ultimately, there is little Bangladesh can do if its citizens turn up at the border gates, having decided to return to their homeland. Now, such deportations have taken place on a smaller scale under previous governments as well, but some immigrants return undetected once the heat lowers. This time however, the Home Ministry is collecting biometric data to prepare a blacklist of deportees, who will be barred from applying for Aadhar cards. Similarly, in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, over a thousand Pakistani nationals were asked to leave India. top videos View all Though the move may appear harsh, it reflects Modi 3.0's uncompromising position: national security is paramount, and there is no room for ambiguity. From cross-border strikes to domestic crackdowns, just the first year of Modi's third term has redrawn India's national security landscape. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views About the Author Shubhangi Sharma Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India. tags : Anti-Naxal operations anti-terror operations Narendra Modi National Security Naxal encounter Operation Sindoor Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 04, 2025, 12:33 IST News opinion OPINION | From Pakistan To Naxals, Modi 3.0 Is All Action, No Ambiguity On National Security
India Today
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Three service chiefs monitored Op Sindoor in real-time, show new pics
The Indian Army on Monday unveiled a special booklet for its officials and personnel, providing a detailed glimpse into Operation booklet featured striking images of the tri-service chiefs — Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi — at the 'Command Centre', closely monitoring the May 7 strikes on terrorist infrastructures across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). advertisementThe released photographs captured the military leadership actively overseeing the operation in real time. One notable image shows General Dwivedi and a senior officer intently watching a screen at 1.05 am, the exact time Operation Sindoor commenced. Officials are seen analysing live drone footage, satellite imagery, and continuous operational updates. The meticulously planned strikes involved Indian fighter jets armed with precision-guided bombs, SCALP cruise missiles, and drones targeting nine key infrastructure and killing over 100 Sindoor was India's response to avenge the deadly terror attack which took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April, killing 26 civilians, most of them strike targeted and destroyed crucial logistical, operational, and training facilities used by banned terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen, and allied groups across multiple locations in Pakistan. These included sites in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot, Chakamru, Kotli, Bhimber, Gulpur, as well as two installations in Muzaffarabad within the India's precision strikes, Pakistan carried out artillery shelling on Poonch, Rajouri, and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. This escalation continued with multiple drone and missile attacks targeting Indian military bases and cities over the subsequent three Indian armed forces responded decisively, hitting military airbases of Pakistan. These included radar installations, command and control centres, and ammunition depots in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur and Sialkot. After three days of intense conflict, the nuclear-armed neighbours reached an understanding on cessation of hostilities, following a call from Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to his Indian InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Operation Sindoor
Hans India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
New Photos Reveal Military Chiefs Monitoring Operation Sindoor Strikes on May 7
Newly released images from the Indian Army provide a rare glimpse into the war room during Operation Sindoor, where the heads of India's three armed forces were seen overseeing precision air strikes conducted on May 7 against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The photos show Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi, and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh alongside a senior Army officer, closely monitoring live drone footage, satellite imagery, and real-time mission data. Coordinated Retaliation for Pahalgam Attack The operation was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians were killed in the Baisaran Valley. Codenamed Operation Sindoor — a tribute to the widows of the victims — the strikes targeted multiple high-value terror locations. One of the photos, timestamped 1:05 am on May 7, captures General Dwivedi and the senior officer intently observing mission feeds as Indian fighter jets, SCALP cruise missiles, and drones struck nine terror-linked sites, killing more than 140 terrorists. Targets included terror hubs used by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen, located in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot, Chakamru, and multiple locations in PoJK, such as Kotli, Bhimber, Gulpur, and Muzaffarabad. Key Terror Facilities Targeted Muridke: Headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba, led by Hafiz Saeed Headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba, led by Hafiz Saeed Bahawalpur: Operational base of Jaish-e-Mohammed, associated with Masood Azhar These locations have long been flagged by Indian intelligence and international observers as training and logistics hubs for cross-border terrorism. Pakistan Retaliation and India's Defensive Shield Following the strikes, Pakistan launched artillery fire and conducted drone and missile attacks on Indian military positions and civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir. India's multi-layered air defence network — consisting of systems like MANPADS, Spyder, Akash, MRSAM, and S-400 — was instrumental in intercepting and neutralizing incoming threats. Also read: Guardians of the Sky – Inside India's Air Defence Network India's Measured Counter-Offensive In response to Pakistan's escalation, India launched a precision retaliation targeting 11 Pakistani air bases, including: Sargodha Nur Khan (Chaklala) Bholari Jacobabad Sukkur Rahim Yar Khan Skardu Pasrur Murid Rafiqui Chunian On May 8, Indian forces also targeted an air defence system in Lahore using an armed drone. Satellite imagery accessed by NDTV reveals significant damage at key installations including Sargodha, Chaklala, and Jacobabad, confirming the impact of India's strategic response. A Shift in Security Doctrine In a national address following the operation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a new security doctrine, stating that: India will no longer tolerate nuclear brinkmanship from Pakistan. Any future dialogue with Islamabad will focus solely on terrorism and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The nexus between Pakistan's state machinery and terrorist organizations is now 'exposed and undeniable.' Calling Muridke and Bahawalpur the 'global universities of terror,' the Prime Minister linked these sites to international terror attacks, including 9/11 and the London Tube Bombings.
Hans India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Top brass in action: Army, Navy and Air Chiefs tracked Op Sindoor live
New Delhi: In a rare and striking release, a few images have emerged from the Indian Army's war room, offering a behind-the-scenes look at 'Operation Sindoor', precision military strike by the Indian forces against terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) on May 7. The pictures show the Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi, and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh standing shoulder-to-shoulder, while monitoring real-time updates of the operation in a high-security command centre. Another senior officer of the Army is also visible along with them. The top brass of the Indian armed forces are seen monitoring the coordinated and multi-branch offensive against Pakistan-based terror infrastructures. The second photo, timestamped 1:05 am, captures the exact moment Operation Sindoor was launched. General Dwivedi and the senior officer are seen intently watching live feeds from drone footage and satellite imagery, as Indian Air Force fighter jets, drones, and naval assets executed surgical strikes on nine terror targets. These targets in fact included camps used by major terror organisations operating with support from across the border in Pakistan. According to the Army's official account, over 140 terrorists were eliminated in the precision operation. The strikes reportedly involved the use of SCALP cruise missiles, laser-guided bombs, and armed UAVs, demonstrating the jointness and technological edge of India's armed forces. Experts believe that the release of these photos by the Indian army is a significant development. It not only showcases the real-time involvement of India's military leadership but also sends a strong strategic message about India's readiness and resolve to neutralise cross-border threats from Pakistan or anywhere. The Indian Army has also published an internal booklet on Operation Sindoor to brief its personnel about the operation's scope, coordination, and execution — a rare move that highlights the scale and significance of the strikes. With these images, the Indian armed forces have made a bold statement: when it comes to national security, the top brass is not just in command — they are in the war room.
