Brief Summary
The speaker discusses Operation Sindur, a response to a terrorist attack, highlighting the planning, execution, and objectives of the operation. He emphasizes the importance of political will, inter-service synchronization, and indigenization in achieving success. The speaker also touches upon the significance of air power, conflict termination, and the need for a balanced approach to drones and manned systems in warfare. Additionally, he shares insights on maintaining synergy within the Air Force and the importance of being good human beings, citizens, soldiers, and professionals.
- Operation Sindur was a decisive response to a terrorist attack, targeting terrorist infrastructure and leadership.
- Political will, inter-service synchronization, and indigenization were crucial for the operation's success.
- Air power played a vital role in the operation, enabling quick and precise strikes with minimal collateral damage.
- Conflict termination is an essential aspect of warfare, and efforts should be made to seek opportunities to stop conflicts once objectives are achieved.
- Drones have their importance, but bigger and long-range weapons are still required.
- Maintaining synergy and harmony within the Air Force is crucial, and loose talk and division should be avoided.
- Being good human beings, citizens, soldiers, and professionals are all essential qualities for members of the Air Force.
Introduction and Gratitude
The speaker expresses his gratitude to the Air Force Association Karnataka chapter and HL for continuing the lecture series honoring Chief Marshall Katri. He acknowledges the visionary leadership of figures like Chief Marshall Katri and other senior veterans, recognizing their guidance and motivation for the current Air Force personnel in serving the nation. He also shares a personal connection with the late Chief Marshall Khatri, recalling their meeting on the day of his commissioning in 1984, where Chief Marshall Katri was the reviewing officer.
Operation Sindur: Background and Objectives
The speaker transitions to discussing Operation Sindur, prompted by the earlier mention of the topic. He acknowledges the exceptional work of his team and expresses pride in their performance. The speaker then explains the background of Operation Sindur, which was initiated in response to an unfortunate incident in Pelgam where many people were killed. The nation had to respond emphatically, targeting not only launch pads and training areas but also challenging the terrorist leadership.
Planning and Target Selection
The speaker details the planning phase of Operation Sindur, where various options were discussed among different agencies. They decided on nine targets, with seven close to the border to be taken on by the army and two main headquarter complexes (Bahawalpur and Muritki) to be targeted by the Indian Air Force. The planning involved all three services and other agencies, with discussions on escalation metrics and potential responses. The date and time were decided based on weather patterns and observed movements across the border. The Air Force opted for long-range, accurate weapons to minimize risks to their personnel and avoid collateral damage, with special emphasis on minimizing civilian casualties.
Bahawalpur and Muritki Targets
The speaker presents satellite images of the Bahawalpur complex, highlighting buildings where senior leadership stayed, other personnel resided, and the main mala marus building used for congregations and training. Post-attack satellite pictures show the damage inflicted on these buildings with minimal collateral damage to adjacent structures. The speaker mentions that they had lot of inputs from locals medias which was giving inside pictures.
Damage Assessment and Comparison to Balakot
The speaker then discusses the Muritki headquarters, showing videos of the weapon impacts. He compares the pin-prick-like damage seen in satellite images to similar observations from the Balakot strike. Unlike Balakot, where it was difficult to convince people of the damage due to lack of inside information, Operation Sindur benefited from open-source videos showing the extent of the damage.
Post-Strike Communication and Enemy Response
After achieving their objectives, a message was sent to the Pakistani DGMO through the Indian DGMO, stating that the objective was solely to strike terrorist targets and that India had no military aspirations. However, Pakistan did not agree to de-escalate. In response, Pakistan launched loiter munitions, drones, and small-scale weapons to saturate Indian systems at airfields and army installations. Many of these drones were non-weaponized, seemingly intended for reconnaissance or to trigger Indian air defenses.
Indian Response to Enemy Attacks
The speaker details how Indian local commanders effectively managed the situation, neutralizing many of the incoming drones using anti-drone systems and anti-aircraft guns. In response, India sent loiter munitions to radar and SEAD targets near the border, achieving some success. The approach was calibrated to avoid unnecessary escalation, focusing on the objectives of neutralizing terrorist camps and infrastructure.
Escalation and Retaliatory Strikes
Following intelligence reports of a planned major attack, India decided to respond to any attacks on military installations by targeting Pakistani military installations. When Pakistan attacked Indian airfields with loiter munitions and long-range weapons, Indian air defense systems, including the S400, played a crucial role in deterring Pakistani aircraft. India launched retaliatory attacks on multiple airfields and command centers across Pakistan, including Nur Khan base, Rahimyarkhan base, Sukkur airfield, Bholari, Sargoda, and Jacobabad, inflicting significant damage on command and control centers, radars, runways, and aircraft hangers.
Summary of Achievements and High-Tech Warfare
The speaker summarizes the achievements of Operation Sindur, including the destruction of command and control centers, radars, SEAD systems, runways, and aircraft hangers. Indian SAGW systems, particularly the S400, achieved confirmed kills of at least five fighters and one large aircraft at a distance of about 300 kilometers. The speaker notes that the conflict was a high-tech war fought in about 88-90 hours, resulting in significant damage to the Pakistani system and deterring further escalation.
Reasons for Success: Political Will and Synchronization
The speaker identifies political will as a key reason for the operation's success, emphasizing that there were no restrictions imposed on the forces. He also highlights the synchronization between forces, with the CDS playing a crucial role in bringing everyone together. The NSA played a significant role in coordinating various agencies and forces. The speaker emphasizes that most decisions were made before the operation started, allowing for smooth execution during the conflict.
Reasons for Success: Indigenization and Teamwork
The speaker underscores the importance of indigenization, praising the support received from DPSUs and HL. He highlights the quick response and proactive support provided by these organizations. The speaker also emphasizes the exceptional teamwork within the Air Force, noting the sense of satisfaction derived from the way the team stood together.
Takeaways: Primacy of Air Power and Conflict Termination
The speaker emphasizes the primacy of air power as a first responder capable of quick, precise strikes with minimal collateral damage. He notes a growing understanding of this among the three services. The speaker also points out the importance of conflict termination, noting that it is often overlooked in discussions about warfare. He argues that efforts should be made to seek opportunities to stop conflicts once objectives are achieved, rather than continuing indefinitely.
Takeaways: Drones, Manned Systems, and Indigenization
The speaker cautions against drawing the wrong lessons from recent conflicts regarding drones, emphasizing that they cannot win wars alone and that bigger, long-range weapons are still necessary. He also argues that manned systems will remain relevant, with humans staying in the decision-making loop. The speaker reiterates the importance of indigenization, emphasizing the need for in-house capability and capacity.
Advice for Veterans and Active Personnel
Addressing the veterans, the speaker requests them to write more about their own domains to avoid hurting sentiments of other services. He also urges them to have confidence in the current leadership. For those in uniform, he stresses the importance of synergy and harmony within the Air Force, urging them to support each other and avoid loose talk. He emphasizes that what is being achieved is important, but how it is being achieved is more important, advocating for motivation and willing contribution over coercion.
Concluding Remarks
In his concluding remarks, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being good human beings, citizens, soldiers, and professionals. He thanks the audience for their patient listening and expresses gratitude for being invited to speak.
