Since the 22 April Pahalgam massacre, it was expected that India would respond to the Pakistan military orchestrated terror attack with all its might. The confidence behind this expectation turned into reality, as it eventually did on the intervening night of 6-7 May when it executed Operation Sindoor.
Officials told the Sunday Guardian that since the last three days, India’s military prowess, specifically its air defence and offensive capabilities have been put to the ultimate test in which it obliterated nine terrorist camps across Pakistan.
According to officials, there was no doubt that Pakistan would retaliate in order to pacify its military ego and the various terrorist groups.
However, when Pakistan retaliated with missile strikes targeting Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, not a single missile reached its mark.
This, sources said, happened because of India’s air defence ecosystem, meticulously built over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, which neutralized every threat with precision.
Sharing details, an official source said that the operation showcased a seamless integration of cutting-edge systems: the S-400 Triumf, Barak-8 missiles, Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles, and DRDO’s anti-drone technologies which formed an unbreachable aerial shield.
The Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid and Man Portable Counter Drone Systems (MPCDS) further ensured that hostile drones and UAVs were jammed or disabled before they could pose a threat.
This robust defence not only thwarted Pakistan’s aggression but also exposed the fragility of its own air defence systems as was revealed during the 20 minutes of the execution of Operation Sindoor in which the Indian Armed forces struck deep into Pakistani territory.
A Chinese-supplied HQ-9 air defence unit in Lahore was destroyed, and critical radar infrastructure was crippled.
Sources revealed that the operation marked the combat debut of indigenously manufactured loitering munitions—suicidal drones ordered in 2021—that executed simultaneous, pinpoint strikes, catching Pakistan’s defences off guard.
In addition, locally built Harop drones, alongside Rafale fighter jets armed with SCALP and HAMMER missiles, took out air defence assets in Karachi and Lahore, showcasing India’s ability to project power with surgical accuracy.
This military success is likely to be seen and deciphered by experts as a result of a decade-long transformation of India’s defence architecture under the Modi government.
Since 2014, strategic investments have fortified the nation’s air defence capabilities which included the Rs 35,000 crore deal for five S-400 Triumf squadrons, signed in 2018, under which three squadrons deployed along the borders with China and Pakistan.
Similarly, the $2.5 billion acquisition of Barak-8 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles, signed with Israel in 2017, is now protecting key bases like Bhatinda. Indigenous systems, including Akash missile batteries and DRDO’s counter-drone technologies, have further strengthened India’s self-reliance in defence.
Sources pointed out that the rise of Indian technology in modern warfare was a defining feature of Operation Sindoor.
The use of homegrown loitering munitions and locally produced Harop drones underscored India’s growing expertise in precision weaponry. Combined with a tech-driven airspace defence network capable of detecting, jamming, and eliminating threats, India has established itself as a formidable force in modern warfare.
Operation Sindoor is not just a military victory—it is also being seen as a testament to the Modi government’s vision of a resilient, multi-layered defence ecosystem. India’s skies are not just defended; they are controlled.