Over a week after India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, details of the mission are now emerging, including how India managed to deceive and outsmart its adversary. The success of the mission is reportedly attributed to the DRDO Lakshya unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The UAV was disguised as fighter jets that resembled Rafale, Su-30, or MiG-29 aircraft. On the night of May 6-7, 2025, between 1:05 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. IST, when India sent them across the border, the aircraft appeared to the enemy country as legitimate warplanes.
How Pakistan Responded?
As the UAVs resembled warplanes on Pakistani radar, the next thing the army did was to trigger a defensive response. Pakistan thought an enemy aircraft had entered its airspace. So, it turned on its air defence systems, including Chinese-made HQ-9 missiles and radar systems. By doing this, Pakistan unknowingly revealed the locations of its important military setups- like radar stations, missile sites, and control centres- at air bases such as Sargodha, Bholari, and Rafiqui.
The Indian Air Force (IAF), operating from Indian airspace, deployed Harop loitering munitions (kamikaze drones) to destroy the exposed Pakistani air defence systems. This was followed by precision strikes using BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Scalp, and Crystal Maze missiles, targeting 11 Pakistani air bases (including Chaklala, Rafiqui, Bholari, and Muridke) and nine terror camps (e.g., Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba facilities in Muridke, Bahawalpur, and Sialkot).
The operation lasted 26 minutes. In that time, India damaged 20% of Pakistan’s air defence system. Runways, hangars, and a surveillance aircraft at Bholari were destroyed. Over 100 terrorists were killed, including Yusuf and Rauf Azhar. Pakistan said it had shot down Indian fighter jets- 20 Rafales, 15 MiG-29s, and 10 Su-30s- but this wasn’t true. Only dummy unmanned aircraft were used, and no Indian pilots crossed the border.
Why It’s Historic For India?
India used DRDO Lakshya drones that looked like fighter jets (Rafale, Su-30, or MiG-29) to trick Pakistan’s air defences. This was the first time India used this tactic. The fake aircraft fooled Pakistan’s Chinese-made HQ-9 missile systems and radars into revealing their locations. This helped India target those places accurately without risking any pilots.
The Indian Air Force carried out the entire operation from Indian territory, using dummy drones, loitering bombs, and long-range missiles like BrahMos and Scalp. This showed India’s ability to attack targets across the border without entering Pakistani airspace, which was important both politically and strategically. Because no Indian pilots flew into Pakistan, the operation avoided strong international criticism. It also demonstrated India’s strength in striking from a safe distance.
Chinese Technology Exposed
India showed that Pakistan’s Chinese-made air defence systems had weaknesses. This sent a strong message to Pakistan and China about India’s military strength. The operation also proved that Pakistan’s claims of shooting down Indian fighter jets were false because India did not send any pilots into Pakistani airspace. This improved India’s reputation worldwide.
India used its own Lakshya drones and BrahMos missiles, along with imported Scalp and Crystal Maze missiles, in the operation. This showed India is becoming more self-reliant in defense technology. The mission also demonstrated how the Air Force is using modern drones, missiles, and real-time information, showing progress in military strength.
