Operation Sindoor: Story, success, takeaways
India’s stunning military project, Operation Sindoor, to punish terrorist Pakistan, was planned and executed with admirable precision and confidence by the defence forces in just two weeks. But the capability to accomplish this grand operation in weeks was developed over years — painstakingly, against all odds and opposition from both internal and external forces.
The transformation of India’s defence infrastructure to a non-contact war model, undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was the foundation for the spectacular Operation Sindoor. This new model marked a significant departure from earlier efforts like the Uri surgical strike and the Balakot aerial attack, which were based on traditional war models. Modi realized that the old model would no longer suffice for the future. Without deep strikes into Pakistan’s territory, India could not destroy terror outfits at their source. This realization impelled Modi to shift to non-contact warfare, the result of which was Operation Sindoor and its breathtaking success.
Despite all the military infrastructure and preparations, Operation Sindoor could not have been undertaken with such relative ease without a cluster of supportive factors. These factors dramatically transformed the geopolitical, economic, and strategic ecosystem in India’s favor under Modi’s ten-year rule. It was also aided by the relative decline of Pakistan during the same period.
Non-contact warfare
What is non-contact warfare and how Modi put India on its ladder?
This is what the Pakistan Defence website had to say [8.7.2020] about how India was climbing on to non-contact warfare. It described the induction of long range missiles, high precision smart weapons, unmanned systems, robots and satellites primarily driven by technology and aimed at achieving a quick, decisive victory by remote delivery of destructive kinetic energy as “non-Contact Warfare”.
The Pakistani site went on to say, “The concept has recently gained currency with the Indian strategic community.” It added, “The Balakot strikes and earlier fake surgical strike claims (by India) point to its strong desire for gaining psychological ascendancy without suffering casualties, simultaneously avoiding escalation of violence.
As recently as January 2015, the Indian army Chief reiterated that non-Contact Warfare is “important” and is a “major consideration” in the planned restructuring of the Indian army.” In its post in 2020, the Pakistan website cited the Indian army chief’s reference to non-contact warfare in 2015 as “recently”!
Op Sindoor – non-contact war mode
The core strength of Operation Sindoor lay in five cutting-edge, non-contact warfare technologies that eliminated the need for ground troops or traditional air assaults.
First, the Rafale fighter jets, second, the SCALP cruise missiles, third, the HAMMER precision missiles, fourth, the Kamikaze loitering drones developed with Israeli collaboration, and fifth, the lethal BrahMos missiles.
All these systems are non-contact and autonomous—once launched, they independently track and engage their targets.
The Indian Air Force used Rafale jets to carry out Operation Sindoor. India equipped these jets with advanced weaponry, including SCALP and HAMMER missiles, enabling deep penetration and highly accurate strikes.
- The SCALP missile is capable of stealthily reaching and destroying distant fortified structures like bunkers and command posts up to 500 kilometers away.
- The HAMMER missile is designed for air-to-ground attacks, effective even against moving targets. During the operation, HAMMER missiles complemented SCALP’s assault.
- The Kamikaze drones are ‘one-way’ drones controlled remotely by humans for targeted destruction.
- Lastly, the BrahMos missile, equipped with an indigenous guidance system, was pivotal in demolishing terrorist hideouts during the mission.
A key asset in defending against Pakistani drone and missile counterattacks from May 7 to 9—following the major Indian strike on the night of May 6-7—was the Russian S-400 missile defense system.
In what seemed like a conspiracy against the nation, the Congress party strongly opposed the purchase of Rafale jets, accusing the deal of corruption and attempting to block it. Fortunately, the Supreme Court intervened and cleared the way, allowing the Rafale deal
Non-contact infra – Modi plan
Modi acquired Rafale and HaMMER missiles from France, SCaLP missiles from England, Heron Mk2 UAVs and technology for HaROP drones from Israel, S-400 missile interceptors from Russia, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles from the US.
The Modi government also secretly purchased various other technologies and equipment.
The two key acquisitions made against all odds and opposition were the Rafale fighter jets and the Russian S-400 missile defence system.
Without the Rafale fighters, non-contact warfare under Operation Sindoor would have been unthinkable.
Without the Russian S-400s, India could not have thwarted the waves of Pakistani drones and missiles targeting Indian defence and air installations on May 7, 8, and 9.
Pakistani missiles were shot down like birds in the sky.
Modi defied the US, took on Rahul’s Congress
Modi faced heavy opposition for buying the two major defence assets — Rafale and S-400 — which ultimately made Operation Sindoor and its aftermath a spectacular success.
In what appeared to be a conspiracy against the nation, the Congress vigorously opposed the purchase of the Rafale jets and, alleging corruption, tried to stop it. Fortunately, the Supreme Court intervened, allowing the Rafale deal.
As the 2019 polls were approaching, Modi took the highest political risk to buy the Rafales, which today have saved India. Without Rafales, our defence forces would not have been able to fire autonomous drones and missiles to target and destroy terrorist camps 250 km away, without crossing the border — the very essence of non-contact warfare.
If Rahul Gandhi was bent upon stopping the Rafale, the US was hell-bent on stopping India from buying the S-400 from Russia. It had threatened to impose technological sanctions on India if it went ahead with the S-400 deal.
But Modi did not buckle under the threat of his friend Trump and went ahead to buy the S-400s in 2018.
It is the S-400s that stopped and destroyed hundreds of Pakistani missiles and drones fired into our territory after the tri-force attacked nine terror camps.
Had Modi buckled under Congress pressure before the elections and not gone ahead with buying Rafale fighter jets, and had he succumbed to Trump’s threat and cancelled the order to buy S-400 anti-missile systems, India could never have thought of Operation Sindoor.
Modi’s Atmanirbharta yielded Kamikaze drones
The story is not complete without complimenting Modi for his efforts to indigenise defence manufacturing under his ambitious Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda.
Modi did not stop at importing the best equipment. He also encouraged the development of technologies within the country.
Our country, which produced only 32% of our defence needs in 2014, now produces 88% of them.
A word about the Kamikaze drones: the Israeli technology was indigenised as Swadeshi Kamikaze drones and inducted into the defence forces in April last year, ahead of India’s 78th Independence Day.
The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) manufactured the indigenous Kamikaze drone, marking a significant milestone in India’s defence technology.
These “do-and-die” unmanned aerial vehicles, designed with home-built engines, can fly up to 1,000 km and loiter over target areas for up to nine hours.
The Swadeshi Kamikaze drones made their debut in Operation Sindoor.
Geopolitical rise of Modi, India
Mere military preparation would not have enabled India to cross the borders and strike Pakistan. When Modi took over as Prime Minister, he faced a wave of negative perceptions spread venomously by his detractors in India, with active support from their liberal woke associates abroad. He vowed to confront this liberal world that virtually hated him.
Anyone facing such widespread adversity might have hired an expensive global PR agency to soften the blow. But Modi chose a different path — he decided to correct the false impressions about him through his own efforts, in the most unconventional way.
He undertook the most extensive travel by any leader anywhere in the world — visiting 73 countries in 10 years. He went to Israel, a country India had neglected for seven decades and which no previous Indian Prime Minister had visited. Today, Israel is one of India’s closest allies.
He was the first PM to visit Australia after Indira Gandhi, and that country has now become a strong partner for India in dealing with the West.
As of May 2025, Modi has visited 41 countries once, 14 countries twice, eight countries thrice (including the UK and Saudi Arabia), Sri Lanka four times, three countries including China five times, Germany six times, Japan, Russia, and UAE seven times, France eight times, and the US ten times.
These were not mere diplomatic picnics. Modi built powerful, personal relationships with leaders worldwide. His strenuous, personal outreach made him familiar with most nations, and endeared him to influential leaders and even distant countries.
Many world leaders became his admirers. For instance, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Modi was the most popular person in Israel. US President Donald Trump called Modi “a fantastic person, magnificent and a total killer.” Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden said he “felt like taking Modi’s autograph.” Russian President Vladimir Putin called Modi “a wise man” and admired his toughness in defending India’s national interests.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described Modi as “the most loved leader in the world.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called him “boss.” The then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote in his book Unleashed that Modi is a “change-maker,” recalling a sense of “curious astral energy” during their first meeting.
Modi has been conferred the highest civilian awards by 21 countries, including Muslim-majority nations like Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, and Kuwait, as well as the USA, France, Russia, and Greece. No other world leader has received such a broad range of honors.
Since 2019, Modi has been the most admired leader worldwide, quarter after quarter, according to the US Morning Consult survey, with an approval rating above 70%.
While Modi was straining every nerve to build India’s global image through extensive foreign travels, the Congress party mocked him as a “non-resident Prime Minister.” In contrast, Rahul Gandhi secretly traveled abroad 247 times in four years, often unknown even to his own party.
Modi’s rise and India’s rise were complementary. His visits and the global stature he earned brought technology, trade, investment, and military equipment that would have been difficult to secure without his unprecedented outreach.
His geopolitical ascent as a global leader enabled India to tower over Pakistan, which was dwarfed by Modi and India’s growing influence. When the stealthy Balakot aerial strike was launched under Modi’s watch, there was muted support and open opposition.
This time, with Operation Sindoor, Modi openly declared the mission and launched a brutal attack on Pakistan after crossing the border.
Remarkably, no Muslim country except Turkey supported Pakistan. Even Qatar, which had previously aligned with Pakistan, backed India this time.
India could not have undertaken Operation Sindoor without this crucial global support.
Israeli technology was indigenized into swadeshi Kamikaze drones—“do-or-die” unmanned aerial vehicles capable of flying up to 1,000 km and loitering over target areas for up to nine hours. These Swadeshi Kamikaze drones made their debut during Operation Sindoor.
India’s rise from Fragile 5 to Super 4. Pak 10 steps bel
India’s rise under Modi’s leadership has dwarfed Pakistan and shifted the global ecosystem decisively in India’s favor. When Modi assumed office, India was listed among the world’s Fragile 5 economies. Today, it ranks among the top four fastest-growing economies, with a GDP of $3.88 trillion in 2024. Pakistan, by contrast, lags far behind with a GDP of just $0.37 trillion — nearly ten times smaller.
During Modi’s tenure, India doubled its GDP, while Pakistan, mired in prolonged macroeconomic crisis, has struggled to keep pace. In 2024, India recorded an impressive 8.2% growth rate, three times Pakistan’s 2.4%. Over the past decade, India’s per capita GDP surged by 74%, whereas Pakistan’s growth remained stagnant.
India’s foreign exchange reserves stand at a robust $676 billion, compared to Pakistan’s mere $9 billion. India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy, while Pakistan has been at the IMF’s doorstep over 20 times since 1980 seeking bailouts. The recent $7 billion IMF rescue package for Pakistan is one of the largest in its history. Unfortunately, many such bailouts have been diverted to fund Pakistan’s military, which remains closely linked to terrorist activities.
These stark economic contrasts played a significant role in the global community’s positive reception of India during Operation Sindoor.
Op Sindoor – the key takeaways
Operation Sindoor is a dramatic turn that transformed India into a rule-setter in the Indo-Pakistan interface. There are several key takeaways:
One, India avenged the Pahalgam carnage with massive missile strikes on nine terror camps, which Pakistan could neither block nor deny—unlike in the past when it was always in denial.
Two, Pakistan, which started the war after India’s attack on terror, failed to penetrate the country’s air defence system with its missiles.
Three, Indian forces destroyed Pakistan’s air defence systems while attacking and damaging its air bases with impunity.
Four, when thoroughly beaten, Pakistan’s nuclear threat was laughed away by India, forcing Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations to beg for a ceasefire.
Five, India openly declared that any future terror strike will be regarded as a declaration of war and will be met with pursuit of terror outfits inside Pakistan.
Six, Pakistan’s military commanders attending funerals of globally wanted terrorists and paying homage has provided vital evidence of the link between its army and terror.
Seven, the Prime Minister told Pakistan and the world that ‘terror and talk,’ and ‘trade and talk,’ cannot go together.
Eight, he stated that any talk with Pakistan will be only about PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).
Nine, he also declared that blood and water cannot flow together, clearly linking Indus water flow to Pakistan giving up terror.
Ten, Modi warned Pakistan that unless it gives up terror, it will be destroyed by terror.
And lastly, Modi said India will not tolerate nuclear blackmail, indicating that its no first use nuclear policy may be reviewed.
To conclude, Operation Sindoor resets the India-Pakistan engagement—whether in war or peace.