FORCE PROJECTION

Long-range precision weapons proved a game changer during 'Operation Sindoor'

- ATUL CHANDRA

'Operation Sindoor' which began in the early hours of May 7 and ceased on May 10, was a showcase of the Indian armed forces and their new long-range precision strike capabilities. The initial series of calibrated strikes on May 7 began in the early hours of the morning and lasted 23 minutes. Tweeting details of the targets on May 7 itself, the army targeted the Abbas Terrorist Camp at Kotli, 13 km from the Line of Control in Pakistan Occupied Jammy & Kashmir (POJK); Gulpur Terrorist Camp at Kotli, 30 km from the Line of Control (POJK) and Mehmoona Joya Terrorist Camp in Sialkot, 12 km away from International boundary. Government sources stated that the nine cross-border terror sites were targeted in the operations which lasted approximately 23 minutes, with over 100 terrorists claimed killed.

The initial strikes involved both the army and air force and featured loitering munition attacks from the former and guided missiles by the latter. However, it was on May 8 that the Indian Air Force (IAF) unleashed its precision strike capability with Air Defence (AD) sites and radars, hangars and military infrastructure at Lahore, Attock, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Miano, Chhor and near Karachi being engaged.

Pakistan's ISPR confirmed India's use of Israeli-made Harop drones, for some of these strikes. Between May 8-10, the IAF targeted Pakistani airbases at Noor Khan, Rahimyar Khan, Chaklala, Rafique, Sargodha Bholari, and Jacobabad, with Command & Control (C2) centres, am Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) complex and radar sites being destroyed. This has also been confirmed by satellite imagery that emerged later in May.