Operation Sindoor marked a significant chapter in India’s military response following the Pahalgam terror attack, not just because of its precise strikes on terror camps, but due to the clever tactics employed by the Indian Air Force. Beyond sheer firepower, India used unmanned dummy aircraft disguised as fighter jets to deceive Pakistan’s air defence systems, leading to the successful disabling of key Pakistani military installations. This well-orchestrated deception played a crucial role in India’s offensive, catching Pakistan off guard and revealing their air defence positions.
Deception Tactics Behind the Strikes
According to defence sources cited by ANI, the Indian Air Force employed unmanned target aircraft camouflaged as real fighter jets on the night of May 9-10. These dummy aircraft were used to bait Pakistan’s air defence radars into activating their HQ-9 missile systems. Believing they were facing an imminent aerial assault, Pakistani forces scrambled their missile batteries, inadvertently exposing their locations. This forced Pakistan to deploy its HQ-9 launchers and radars to various positions, some newly set up but detectable once activated.
This clever ruse allowed the Indian Air Force to launch its subsequent missile attacks with precision. The offensive involved 15 BrahMos missiles along with Scalp, Rampage, and Crystal Maze missiles targeting Pakistani air bases. These strikes successfully disabled airstrips, hangars, and communication infrastructure, with reports of damage to an airborne early warning aircraft and multiple long-endurance drones based in Sindh. Defence insiders note that this operation marked the first known combat use of the BrahMos missile system.
Impact on Pakistan’s Military Response
The damage inflicted by India’s missile strikes was so severe that Pakistan abandoned plans to retaliate with its air defence systems. Instead, the Pakistani military urgently sought direct talks with India’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to establish a ceasefire and halt further hostilities. This response underscores the strategic effectiveness of India’s combination of deception and advanced missile technology during Operation Sindoor.
The aerial missions were mainly coordinated from India’s Western and Southwestern Air Commands. On the Pakistani side, attempts to counter the attacks using ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as unmanned combat aircraft, were largely neutralized by India’s Russian-supplied S-400, MRSAM, and Akash air defence systems.
Despite a formal ceasefire agreement announced by both countries last week, recent drone sightings and explosions in Jammu and Kashmir have triggered Indian air defence responses, indicating ongoing tensions and vigilance along the border.
