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S-400 "Sudarshan Chakra" in operation
Operation Sindoor: India’s Precision Response to the Pahalgam Terror Attack and Strategic Aerial Superiority
11/05/2025 By JKSCUKOn April 22, 2025, a tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 Hindu pilgrims. The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the killings, releasing a statement praising the attack. TRF is widely believed to be a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which has a long history of orchestrating major terror incidents in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and numerous targeted assaults on security forces and civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. While Pakistan officially denied any involvement and called for an impartial investigation, TRF—and by extension, LeT—had initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam Hindu massacre.
India’s Targeted Response
On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor—a swift and calibrated aerial strike in retaliation. The Indian Air Force (IAF) executed a 23-minute precision mission targeting nine terror training camps and logistical bases located in Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Muzaffarabad—areas long known for harbouring terror infrastructure. These locations, which have served as hubs of terrorism against India, were strategically selected to dismantle the operational backbone of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). India emphasized, through both action and official statements, that the strikes were aimed solely at terror camps, not civilians.
The IAF employed Rafale fighter jets equipped with advanced stand-off munitions—SCALP and AASM HAMMER missiles. These weapons enabled India to neutralize targets from a safe distance, without entering contested airspace. The SCALP (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée) is a long-range air-launched cruise missile capable of destroying fortified bunkers and underground facilities with high precision using satellite navigation, terrain mapping, and autonomous targeting. The AASM HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range), developed by Safran, is a precision-guided glide bomb capable of striking both moving and stationary targets from over 70 km away. These precision strikes signify India’s shift toward a doctrine of proactive deterrence and technology-driven warfare.
Pakistan’s Retaliation and the Defence of Indian Cities
Following the Indian airstrikes, Pakistan retaliated within hours by launching a coordinated barrage of drones, cruise missiles, and multiple rocket launch systems targeting civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani forces specifically aimed at regions such as Poonch, Rajouri, and Kupwara. However, India’s multi-layered air defence network was fully activated and responded with unmatched efficiency, successfully intercepting and neutralizing the threats.
India’s Multi-Layered Air Defence Shield
India’s defence systems—including the S-400 Triumf missile system (nicknamed “Sudarshan Chakra”), the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, L70 anti-aircraft guns, and the Akash surface-to-air missile systems—formed an impenetrable shield over the targeted regions. More than two dozen Pakistani projectiles, including drones and missiles, were intercepted mid-air, preventing any damage to infrastructure or loss of life.
Pakistani projectiles, including drones and missiles, were intercepted mid-air, preventing any damage to infrastructure or loss of life.
. S-400 Sudarshan Chakra: This advanced Russian-origin system provides 360° surveillance and engagement capabilities. It can track up to 300 targets simultaneously and intercept aerial threats up to 400 km away, including stealth aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles. Its integration with India’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) enabled real-time coordination and rapid response.
. ZSU-23-4 Shilka: A self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon system equipped with radar-guided 23 mm cannons, ideal for short-range defence against low-flying drones and missiles.
. L70 Anti-Aircraft Guns: These legacy systems, upgraded with electro-optical targeting and radar sensors, effectively countered several low-flying threats,
.Surface-to-Air Missiles: India’s indigenous medium-range missile system played a key role in layered interception, significantly strengthening the air defence shield across both urban and border areas.Harop Drones: Suppressing Enemy Defences
To ensure the safe passage of its strike aircraft and missiles, India deployed Israeli-origin Harop drones. These loitering munitions hovered over Pakistani airspace, locating and neutralizing radar installations and elements of Pakistan’s air defence network. One critical target—a Pakistani radar site near Lahore—was successfully destroyed, clearing the path for Rafale jets and SCALP missile strikes. Harop drones are known for their long endurance (up to six hours) and deep penetration capabilities, making them ideally suited for strategic suppression missions against enemy air defences.
Harop drone prototype
Future Air Dominance: Indigenous BVR Missile Success
In a parallel development, India’s air combat capabilities received a major boost with the successful trial of an indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile in May 2025. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) for integration with the LCA Tejas fighter aircraft, the missile achieved a direct hit on a fast-moving aerial target during testing. Equipped with active radar seekers and mid-course guidance, the missile enables Indian pilots to engage enemy aircraft from distances exceeding 100 km—well beyond visual range—enhancing both survivability and first-strike capability.
The Astra Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile
This indigenous missile, now integrated with both the Tejas and Rafale platforms, significantly reduces India’s dependence on foreign suppliers and aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative. It enhances operational flexibility and serves as a cost-effective deterrent, with built-in potential for continuous upgrades and future enhancements.
Operation Sindoor: A Strategic Turning Point
Operation Sindoor marks a pivotal moment in India’s counter-terror strategy—one characterized by surgical precision, cutting-edge technology, and calibrated restraint. By striking terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, employing high-precision munitions such as SCALP and HAMMER, defending Indian cities with systems like the S-400 and Akash, and successfully testing indigenous BVR missiles, India has signalled a decisive evolution in its military doctrine. With a robust combination of layered air defences and advanced offensive capabilities, India has asserted itself as a dominant regional air power, fully prepared to defend its citizens and secure its skies.
