Operation Sindoor: India Strikes Terroist Camps Inside Pakitsan


I wanted to say more but this comes as a surprise.

"...Operations are still ongoing..."

My guess is, they remain in a heightened alert state and ISR assets are still at work to check for more possible ceasefire violations after India retaliated with drone strikes for last night's CFV.

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Anyway, just to get our thoughts in order as we begin the phase of analyzing how the air operations unfolded, I think one of the aspects that we need to pay particular attention to is the use of AESA-based seekers on the PL-15s, and how they must have affected the equation with SPECTRA's ability to jam/spoof incoming active-guidance threats.

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We know that evading AIM-120C-5s with regular pulse-doppler seekers was not a problem for our aircraft even back in 2019, thanks in part to externally carried jammers like EL/L-8222. The internally carried SPECTRA suite was meant to provide a similar capability to the Rafale - but the advent of AESA seekers make matters complicated, as I had previously predicted:


"...But even that will become difficult as missiles with 60+ TRM AESA seekers will become commonplace in the next decade. Unlike FCRs where the TRMs have to conduct multiple roles, an AAM seeker has only one job: maintain lock on the target no matter what. So they will be tailored with ECCMs of such frequency-agility that it becomes impossible to spoof them with a smaller transmitter with fewer TRMs (meaning less frequency-agility of your own, even if you somehow figure out their algorithm).

At that point, a lot of current-gen integrated SPJs (including Rafale's emitters) will become obsolete and aircraft that rely on them for self-protection will no longer be considered survivable as frontline fighters unless flying inside the bubble of a podded escort jammer. The key will be to evade detection entirely and obtain look-first/shoot-first so that the problem of dealing with these next-gen AAMs is for the enemy to figure out..."


Admittedly, at the time I was writing that, I had no idea that the PL-15 already had an AESA seeker. I thought the Chinese were yet to operationalize that technology. So I was off the mark on that part - they won't become a problem next decade, they've already become a problem NOW.

Now we need to see how this informs IAF decisions going forward. First, let's see what they disclose after winding up the operation.

PL-15 uses a GaN seeker. It was already known since 2017 or so.

It's very difficult for GaAs systems to defeat GaN.
We will have Astra mk2 with AESA seeker as well but big problem is range. With only 160 km range it is still outgunned by PL15. We need Gandiva with AESA seeker by 2030 desperately at least in LSP. Another issue is awacs. What's the possibility of Chinese ZDK Awacs guiding the PL15s they launched at us? If this possibility cannot be discounted we also need to expedite Netra Mk1a awacs as well so that it can guide our Astra mk2 and Gandiva in air to air combat while staying at a safe distance to evade enemy BVRM. Current Netra AWACS with 240 km tracking range is very vulnerable if Pakistan indeed has non export PL15s.

Astra Mk2 will comfortably match PL-15. 160 km is the objective, like 80 km was for Astra Mk1.
 
Yes - lack of sufficient numbers of AEW aircraft is another critical vulnerability of the IAF. The price of this will be very heavy to pay.

However, my post was especially addressed at the possible reasons why our Rafale may have failed to defend itself from incoming AAMs -- provided the downing is true -- and what we can do to fix this problem.

We may have to look at augmenting SPECTRA with an additional layer of offensive/defensive jamming capability - externally carried.

P.S. - This is, after all, the world's first combat engagement involving BVR missiles with AESA seekers. There'll be many lessons to draw from operators of all similar 4.5 gen fighters.

At the distance involved, if we are talking about the Bathinda site, the Rafale likely crashed.

I think you are gonna be in for a surprise too.
 
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Which is why the IAF is in the state that it is in.

Fun fact: Western defense experts for years said that IAF and PAF are equal powers. Even expert analysts on the Internet said any PAF vs IAF fight will see heavy losses on both sides.

Reality: This equal power with equal technologies thoroughly destroyed that equal power in just 48 hours.

The operation we conducted is going to be a must-study for all air warriors globally. It's going to be passed down in the history books of all military academies.
 
my doubt is :

If the PAF’s mighty F-16s with their AIM-120s and J-10s with PL-15s can supposedly shoot down IAF jets like Rafales at will, then why are they sitting ducks when IAF jets come knocking on their airbases with air-to-surface missiles? According to the PAF’s cheerleaders in Western media, they’ve shot down 5 Rafales. If their claims held any water, IAF jets should be fleeing in terror at the sight of a PAF fighter. So why is the PAF watching helplessly as the IAF turns their bases into a fireworks display?

Exactly. You can be sure you will see glowing praises for the Rafale once the IAF reveals all details.

The Rafale has consistently been flying without being detected over Pakistan.
 
The truth is, the Pakistani leadership ie their Army knows they got pummeled hard and they also know 2016 and 2019 was nothing compared to the banging they got this time. They also know that any future attack on Indian civilians or Indian troops in a mass scale will see a response which will make even Operation Sindhoor look like a picnic. Hence, they will make an attempt to reign in and stop any mass attacks on Indian civilians and soldiers. But Pakistan will continue to infiltrate small teams of SSG and terrorists to kill our soldiers in small numbers. In the past few years we mourned such losses and went about as if nothing happened shortly afterwards. This must change now. Even if they kill 1 soldier, start shelling across IB and LoC as well. Make our snipers take 5 of their soldiers. We must make them bleed slowly for every transgression while we also make them die of thirst in the next few years.
2016 was eve teasing
2019 was molestation
2025 was sexual assault
 
Friday night I was going through Pee Dee Ffff during the discusion, Oscar one of there most reputed military analyst posted this just afterwards Noor Khan Base got hit, below is snap shot of his post. Which confirms the theory that there was nuclear stuff at the place when it was hit
. This post is still there posting the link below..
https://defencepk.com/forums/thread...nt-news-updates-and-discussion.21640/page-805

View attachment 43160

I was banned from PDF because I said Muridke was going to be hit.

It was hit one day later......
 
2016 was eve teasing
2019 was molestation
2025 was sexual assault
2016 - kick the can down the road
2019 - kick the can down the road
2025 - kick the can down the road

Each time the threshold for violence comes down.

Besides “sending a message” no tangible outcome has been secured.

If the nuclear factor forced the US and India held back as a mature power “having made its point” what will be the outcome in future conflicts?

IWT is still suspended. If Leaderji does walk the talk and stops the water from Pak rivers as per IWT allocation. What happens then?

Sindoor was India putting down a rabid pet belonging to a hostile neighbour. Pak went apeshit in the escalation ladder.

Water will be an existential crisis for them. If Leaderji manages to not fold under pressure again we will again see conflict soon. The same script will play again. Pak gets belt treatment. Pak talks nukes. Do we let US step in and save Pak once more?

There were spectacular successes on the military front. But now diplomatic side (all the way to Leaderji) need to pull their weight.