Operation Sindoor: ‘IAF jammed Pak’s Chinese-supplied air defence systems, wiped out targets in 23 minutes’

New Delhi, May 14: The Indian Air Force (IAF) in the first phase of “Operation Sindoor” completely jammed Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defence systems and wiped out the nine terror camps in Pakistan and the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) within a span of 23 minutes, officials said on Wednesday.
An official said that all strikes were executed without loss of Indian assets. “These strikes underscored the effectiveness of our surveillance, planning, and delivery systems. The use of modern indigenous technology, from long-range drones to guided munitions, made these strikes highly effective and politically calibrated,” he added.
The official said, “Indian Air Force bypassed and jammed Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defence systems, completing the mission in just 23 minutes, demonstrating India’s technological edge.”
According to the officials “Operation Sindoor” also produced concrete evidence of hostile technologies neutralized by Indian systems: Pieces of PL-15 missiles (of Chinese origin) Turkish-origin UAVs, named “Yiha” or “YEEHAW” 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 defence and electronic warfare networks remained superior.
The officials said, “Operation Sindoor emerged as a calibrated military response to an evolving pattern of asymmetric warfare, one that increasingly targets unarmed civilians along with military personnel. The terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025 served as grim reminder of this shift. India’s response was deliberate, precise, and strategic. Without crossing the Line of Control or international boundary, Indian forces struck terrorist infrastructure and eliminated multiple threats.”
They said, “Beyond tactical brilliance, what stood out was the seamless integration of indigenous hi-tech systems into national defence. Whether in drone warfare, layered air defence, or electronic warfare, Operation Sindoor marks a milestone in India’s journey towards technological self-reliance in military operations.”
Providing details about how the adversary tried to escalate the tension, the officials said, “On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and Air Defence systems. “
They said that Air Defence systems detect, track, and neutralise threats using a network of radars, control centres, artillery, and both aircraft- and ground-based missiles. “On the morning of May 8, the Indian armed forces targeted air defence radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. An air defence system at Lahore was neutralized.”
“As part of “Operation Sindoor,” the following were used: Battle-proven AD (Air Defence) systems like the Pechora, OSA-AK and LLAD guns (Low-level air defence guns).Indigenous systems such as the Akash, which demonstrated stellar performance.
AKASH is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile system to protect vulnerable areas and vulnerable points from air attacks. The AKASH Weapon System can simultaneously engage Multiple Targets in Group Mode or Autonomous Mode. It has built in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features. The entire weapon system has been configured on mobile platforms,” they added.
The officials said, “India’s Air Defence Systems, combining assets from the Army, Navy, and primarily the Air Force, performed with exceptional synergy. These systems created an impenetrable wall, foiling multiple attempts by Pakistan to retaliate. The Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) of the Indian Air Force brought all these elements together, providing the net-centric operational capability vital for modern warfare.”
According to the officials India’s offensive strikes targeted key Pakistani airbases- Noor Khan and Rahimyar Khan with surgical precision. Loitering munitions were used to devastating effect, each finding and destroying high-value targets, including enemy radar and missile systems. “Loitering munitions also known as “suicide drones” or “kamikaze drones”, are weapons systems that can hover or circle a target area, searching for a suitable target before attacking,” they added.
“All strikes were executed without loss of Indian assets, underscoring the effectiveness of our surveillance, planning, and delivery systems. The use of modern indigenous technology, from long-range drones to guided munitions, made these strikes highly effective and politically calibrated,” they said.
On May 12, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, Director General Military Operations, in the ‘Operation Sindoor’ press briefing highlighted the excellent performance of a mix of legacy and modern systems.
“Since precise strikes on terrorists were conducted without crossing the Line of Control or International Boundary, it was anticipated Pakistan’s response would come from across the border.
A unique blend of counter Unmanned Aerial Systems, Electronic Warfare assets, and Air Defence Weapons from both Army and Air Force Multiple defensive layers from the International Boundary inward: Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Shoulder-Fired Weapons, Legacy Air Defence Weapons, Modern Air Defence Weapon Systems. This multi-tier defence prevented Pakistan Air Force attacks on our airfields and logistic installations during the night of May 9-10. These systems, built over the last decade with continuous government investment, proved to be force multipliers during the operation. They played a crucial role in ensuring that both civilian and military infrastructure across India remained largely unaffected during enemy retaliation attempts,” the officials added. (KNO)