Operation Sindoor, a swift and decisive military action undertaken by the Indian Armed Forces, has captured the attention of the nation and the world. Launched as a calibrated response to escalating asymmetric warfare and cross-border terror attacks, the operation marks a significant milestone in India's defense capabilities. Triggered by Pakistan's coordinated drone and missile strikes on multiple Indian cities, including Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, and Bhuj, on the intervening night of May 7 and 8, Operation Sindoor aimed to deliver a strong message against terrorism.

The operation was launched in retaliation to the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen, mostly tourists, were killed. Following the attacks, an initial raft of non-military measures were taken, including suspending the critical Indus Waters Treaty. Subsequently, India launched Operation Sindoor, with precision air strikes at nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

One of the most striking aspects of Operation Sindoor was its speed and precision. According to official documents, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully bypassed and jammed Pakistan's Chinese-supplied air defense systems, completing the mission in just 23 minutes. The operation, conducted on the morning of May 8, 2025, targeted critical Pakistani air defense radars and military installations, including a key facility near Lahore. All Indian assets returned safely, underscoring the mission's flawless execution.

Adding to the element of surprise, the IAF employed a clever strategy of using dummy aircraft disguised as fighter jets to bait and disable Pakistan's air defense systems. On the night of May 9–10, India struck 11 out of 12 key Pakistani air bases. Before launching its wave of missile attacks, the IAF first sent in unmanned target aircraft camouflaged to mimic real fighter aircraft. This led to Pakistani radars scrambling to knock down what they believed were India's incoming fighter jets, resulting in the activation of their HQ-9 missile systems, revealing their locations and exposing them to attack. The Pakistan Air Force mobilized its entire set of HQ-9 air defense missile system launchers and radars to different locations, and some of them were deployed at new locations but were detected after being activated.

Furthermore, Indian air defense units successfully thwarted a major drone offensive by Pakistan before Operation Sindoor. Over 600 drones launched by Pakistan were destroyed along the western borders. To achieve this, more than 1,000 air defense gun systems and 750 short and medium range surface-to-air missile systems were deployed and mobilized in quick time. This led to a multi-layered air defense network transformed from a peace posture to full operational readiness to defend against the multiple drone waves unleashed by Pakistan during the four days of hostilities. Pakistan launched a series of drones with arms to map and test India's AD radar network and to deplete the volume of India's ammunition and missiles designed to take on aerial threats. The Akashteer system enhanced situational awareness.

Operation Sindoor also produced concrete evidence of neutralized hostile technologies, including pieces of PL-15 missiles (of Chinese origin), Turkish-origin UAVs, long-range rockets, quadcopters, and commercial drones. These were recovered and identified, showing that despite Pakistan's attempts to exploit advanced foreign-supplied weaponry, India's indigenous air defense and electronic warfare networks remained superior.

Following Operation Sindoor, India's defense budget may receive a substantial boost of Rs 50,000 crore. This allocation will take the overall defense budget past Rs 7 lakh crore, providing a significant impetus to research and development and the procurement of advanced weaponry.

In the wake of Operation Sindoor, both India and Pakistan announced an immediate ceasefire of all hostilities across land, air, and sea. However, just hours after the ceasefire understanding, a series of drone sightings and explosions rocked Jammu and Kashmir, triggering air defense responses by Indian security forces to neutralize the aerial threats.

Operation Sindoor has not only demonstrated India's military prowess but has also sparked discussions about the appropriate response to conflict. While some view it as a necessary measure to protect national security and deliver justice to victims of terrorism, others caution against the potential for escalating tensions and the importance of pursuing peaceful resolutions.