NEW DELHI: When terrorists inflicted a brutal massacre in Kashmir’s tranquil Baisaran meadows on 22 April 2025, killing 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali national, India faced an agonising challenge.
The country had to respond decisively without triggering a fullscale conflict. India’s reply, Operation Sindoor, was decisive and historic, showcasing a new paradigm of future-ready and self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) military force. ATMANIRBHARTA ON THE BATTLEFIELD Operation Sindoor displayed India’s military selfreliance by demonstrating the operational maturity of indigenous systems.
The indigenously developed Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), coupled with the sophisticated Rajendra radar, was central to India’s layered air defence, effectively intercepting 95% of enemy drones and missiles. This validated the operational effectiveness of home-grown defence technologies, emphasising the military dimension of the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Supporting this dominance was DRDO’s innovative D4 Anti-Drone System, which neutralised enemy drones through advanced GPS spoofing and RF jamming, dramatically reducing reliance on expensive missile intercepts. Legacy equipment, including upgraded Bofors guns, Pechora missiles, and Low-Level Air Defence (LLAD) guns, seamlessly fused with new technologies, creating a robust defensive shield.
Offensively, India’s homegrown Nagastra-1 loitering munition and reportedly the iconic BrahMos missiles, equipped with domestically produced seeker technology, carried out precise strikes against critical terrorist infrastructures in Bahawalpur and Muridke. These precision strikes eliminated high-value terrorist commanders, such as Hafiz Muhammed Jameel (JeM) and Mudassir Khadian (LeT), highlighting India’s precision targeting capabilities.
PRECISION AND INTELLIGENCE-LED OPERATIONS Official briefs from the Directorate General of Military Operations (DGMO) provide explicit evidence of India’s methodical targeting approach. Detailed satellite imagery and surveillance data enabled meticulous planning and execution of strikes on terrorist camps such as Sawai Nala, Syedna Bilal, Gulpur, Barnala, and Sarjal. Such detailed intelligence shows India’s futureready approach, which integrates cutting-edge surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
Moreover, Operation Sindoor unveiled the alarming civil-military fusion in Pakistan, with clear evidence of senior Pakistani military and civil administration officials attending funerals at Muridke camp, where terrorist leaders were neutralised. This not only justified India’s strategic strikes but also effectively exposed the Pakistani state’s sponsorship of terrorism, reinforcing India’s narrative internationally.
DOMINANCE IN DRONE WARFARE AND AI INTEGRATION A transformative element of Operation Sindoor was the extensive use of drone warfare and artificial intelligence (AI). Autonomous drones such as Nagastra-1 and Israeli-origin Harop drones systematically eliminated senior terrorist figures, significantly degrading terror networks without provoking a broader conflict. Further, agile First-Person View (FPV) kamikaze drones executed targeted attacks on fortified positions in challenging terrains like Balakot, changing the nature of tactical engagements.
The successful destruction of numerous Pakistani drones at sites such as Ramnagar, Naushera, and Miran Sahib confirmed India’s advanced anti-drone warfare capabilities, showcasing a technologically superior military response. AI algorithms efficiently analysed satellite imagery and human intelligence (HUMINT), rapidly prioritising targets and effectively minimising collateral damage and escalation risks. This AI-led approach demonstrates India’s readiness for technology-driven warfare.
ELECTRONIC WARFARE AND COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS Operation Sindoor highlighted India’s advanced electronic warfare capabilities, notably through the indigenously developed Samyukta electronic warfare suite. It successfully disrupted enemy radars and communications, including advanced Chinese-supplied radar systems. This electronic dominance contributed significantly to India’s tactical superiority. Furthermore, India’s capability to neutralise high-value enemy drones at minimal costs—destroying drones valued at approximately Rs 50 lakh each using indigenous measures costing only about Rs 2 lakh per engagement—underlines strategic economic efficiency in warfare, reaffirming India’s focus on sustainable and costeffective defence solutions.
THE CDS FRAMEWORK The operation’s seamless execution demonstrated India’s mastery of real-time, networked battlefield coordination. Over 400 command centres were integrated through the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and the Akashteer command system, facilitating rapid and informed decision-making. Real-time data from ISRO satellites (Cartosat and RISAT) significantly reduced sensor-to-shooter timelines, indicating a profound leap in battlefield responsiveness. Critically, Operation Sindoor validated India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) framework, which was initiated after 2019. The Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy executed integrated multidomain operations, with naval assets such as INS Vikrant effectively implementing a maritime blockade of Karachi, complementing precision strikes by Air Force-operated Rafale jets.
These joint operations signify India’s evolution into a strategically cohesive military force. INSTITUTIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND STRATEGIC RECALIBRATION Operation Sindoor also served as operational validation of the Army’s ambitious Transformation Roadmap (2024-2030), significantly boosted by innovations from the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative. Technologies like drone-kill systems and thermal optics transitioned effectively from laboratories to active battlefield deployments, highlighting institutional readiness and adaptive innovation.
Importantly, the operation strategically recalibrated India’s deterrence posture, clearly demonstrating India’s capability and willingness to conduct decisive cross-border counter-terror operations without triggering larger conflicts. This nuanced approach effectively establishes a new red line against state-sponsored terrorism. EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION The official DGMO brief reinforced the public narrative through explicit visual evidence and comprehensive details of engagements.
Images of downed Pakistani drones and destroyed terrorist infrastructure authenticated India’s claims of self-reliance and technological prowess, while explicit revelations of Pakistani civil-military involvement in terrorism further enhanced the strategic legitimacy of India’s military actions. BUILDING UPON SUCCESS While Operation Sindoor has set a formidable strategic benchmark, continuous evolution remains crucial.
Further enhancements in AI-based predictive analytics, quantum technologies, advanced cyber warfare capabilities, and enhanced space-based surveillance assets will significantly enhance India’s defensive and offensive capabilities. The strategic integration of next-generation autonomous drone swarms, expanded indigenous electronic warfare platforms, and robust cybersecurity measures is vital to addressing future threats.
Proactive international defence cooperation and sustained investment in defence R&D will strengthen India’s global strategic stature and export potential. A FORMIDABLE PARADIGM SHIFT Operation Sindoor is not merely a story of military success but also represents a profound paradigm shift in India’s strategic posture. The detailed DGMO brief reinforces India’s narrative as a technologically advanced, strategically integrated, and self-reliant military force prepared for future challenges.
In the words of Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations, Operation Sindoor represents “the culmination of quiet reforms”—a powerful demonstration of how India, confident in its indigenous technologies and strategic acumen, is decisively stepping into the future of modern warfare. This operation, therefore, symbolises the Indian Armed Forces, particularly the Army’s clear, confident stride into an era of strategic independence, operational precision, and doctrinal clarity, defining its emergence as a future-ready and truly Atmanirbhar military power. * Ashish Singh is an award winning senior journalist with over 18 years of experience in defence and strategic affairs.