Space Minister Jitendra Singh revealed on National Space Day that space technology played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor, marking a significant advancement in India's strategic capabilities. The minister highlighted that the operation, which involved missile launches into Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, showcased the full potential of Indian space technology, integrating the efforts of the Department of Space and the Department of Atomic Energy.
According to Singh, Operation Sindoor provided a crucial opportunity to test and validate these technologies on Pakistani soil, demonstrating the advancements achieved during the Modi government's tenure. He emphasized that the capabilities demonstrated were largely developed and transferred within the last decade.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirmed the strategic importance of satellites in May, stating that at least 10 satellites are operating continuously to ensure the nation's safety and security. He noted that achieving the objectives of Operation Sindoor would have been impossible without satellite and drone technology. ISRO's satellites provide essential services to the military, including physical and navigation support via NavIC for guiding weapons and missiles, weather updates and communication through Insat satellites, strategic communication via Gsat services, and earth surveillance and observation data from SAR satellites like Risat.
Operation Sindoor introduced new dimensions to the Indo-Pak conflicts, primarily characterized by the absence of ground troops, relying instead on air and space power. The operation showcased exceptional coordination by Indian software engineers, who orchestrated attacks on terrorist sites within Pakistan in response to the targeting of Indian military sites. India's ability to penetrate Pakistan's air defense system and target military bases using a combination of indigenous and foreign weapon systems, integrated with space assets, was a key highlight.
A significant aspect of Operation Sindoor was India's self-reliance, contrasting with Pakistan's dependence on foreign support, mainly from China. India utilized its own NAVIC system for precision strikes, overcoming the dependence on foreign systems like the US-owned GPS, which was restricted during the Kargil conflict. This capability enabled India to strike targets accurately and counter Pakistani and Chinese weaponry.
The NCERT has incorporated special modules on Operation Sindoor for students in classes 3 to 12, emphasizing the joint efforts of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, supported by the Border Security Force and real-time surveillance from ISRO satellites.
The Indian strikes targeted key locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, marking the most extensive attacks on Pakistani soil outside of the major wars between the two nations. These strikes, for the first time since 1971, directly impacted Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province and economic center.
