In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, which saw the Indian Armed Forces destroy nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Pakistan attempted to escalate tensions by launching missile strikes targeting Indian military installations across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. However, every single missile was intercepted or neutralised, with none reaching its intended target.
India’s rapid and coordinated response showcased the strength of its air defence ecosystem, built over the past 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Simultaneously, the action exposed the hollowness of Pakistan’s air defence capabilities.
Key defence components including the Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid, S-400 Triumph systems, Barak-8 missiles, Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles, and DRDO’s anti-drone technologies worked in tandem to establish an impenetrable aerial shield, Indian Army Sources told Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com.
India’s counteroffensive was equally swift and precise. As part of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces launched deep strikes into Pakistani territory, destroying an HQ-9 air defence unit in Lahore and damaging key radar infrastructure, they said.
A Decade of Strategic Preparedness
This high level of preparedness is the result of strategic defence planning since 2014. Under the Modi government, India has systematically upgraded its air defence architecture through key acquisitions and developments, including: A Rs 35,000 crore deal for five S-400 Triumph squadrons signed in 2018, with three squadrons now operational along the western and northern borders.
Deployment of Barak-8 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MR-SAM) under a $2.5 billion deal signed with Israel in 2017, currently active in guarding frontline bases, Installation of indigenous Akash missile batteries and DRDO-developed counter-drone systems and induction of Man-Portable Counter Drone Systems (MPCDS) in 2024, aimed at jamming and disabling hostile UAVs.
The Rise of Indian Tech in Modern Warfare
Operation Sindoor also marked the combat debut of loitering munitions—suicidal drones ordered in 2021 and manufactured in India. These drones executed simultaneous precision strikes across sectors, taking Pakistan’s defences by surprise, sources said.
The Army sources further said that in addition, Israeli-origin Harop drones, now built in India, were deployed to target and destroy air defence assets in Karachi and Lahore. Combined with the strategic deployment of Rafale fighter jets equipped with SCALP and HAMMER missiles, India demonstrated a powerful ability to conduct surgical precision strikes.
Airspace Secured, Reputation Reinforced
The Modi government’s approach to defence has focused on building a resilient, multi-layered system rather than short-term measures. Today, India operates a tech-driven airspace defence network capable of detecting, jamming, and eliminating threats before they breach its borders.
Operation Sindoor sent a clear message: India is not only capable of defending its skies—it now controls them. (KDC)
