New Delhi – The Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh, asserted that the weapon systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) played a decisive role in Operation Sindoor. Singh made this statement during his visit to the DRDO Headquarters in New Delhi on January 1, 2026, coinciding with the organisation's 68th Foundation Day.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, where 26 civilians were killed. India attributed the attack to The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The operation involved strikes on alleged terrorist camps across the border.
Singh commended the DRDO for strengthening India's indigenous defence capabilities by equipping the Armed Forces with state-of-the-art technologies. He noted that DRDO's equipment worked seamlessly during the operation, boosting the morale of the soldiers. He expressed confidence that DRDO will play a crucial role in the creation of the Sudarshan Chakra, an air defence system announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under this initiative, DRDO is responsible for equipping vital installations with an air defence system to ensure complete aerial protection over the next decade. Highlighting the importance of air defence in modern warfare, as witnessed during Operation Sindoor, Singh expressed confidence that DRDO would work wholeheartedly to achieve this goal at the earliest.
The Indian Army revealed that Operation Sindoor was conceived, planned, and controlled by the Military Operations (MO) Branch at Army Headquarters. The operation focused on dismantling terrorist infrastructure across the border with calibrated strikes. Nine terrorist camps were destroyed, seven by the Indian Army and two by the Indian Air Force (IAF) through precision air strikes.
During the operation, India used key weapon systems such as SCALP and HAMMER missiles, as well as SkyStriker suicide drones. India's Air Defence System and Counter-Drone systems successfully thwarted retaliatory attacks.
Singh called upon DRDO to continue progressing in sync with the rapidly evolving technological ecosystem and to develop products that remain relevant to changing times. He urged the organisation to maintain its focus on innovation and to identify more areas that can enhance private sector participation.
Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman DRDO, Dr Samir V. Kamat, briefed Singh on ongoing research and development activities, the organisation's achievements in 2025, initiatives to promote industry, start-ups, and academia, and the roadmap for 2026. He was also apprised of major targets set for 2026 and the various reforms being undertaken to improve the organisation.
Singh praised DRDO for becoming trust builders along with technology creators, which makes the people look towards it with hope, certainty, and belief. He acknowledged DRDO's collaboration with the private sector, stating that the increased engagement with the industry, academia and start-ups has resulted in the creation of a synergetic defence ecosystem.
