Dusted in 23 minutes: How IAF bypassed, jammed Pakistan's China-supplied air defence systems to hit key targets

Operation Sindoor

Days after India and Pakistan arrived at an understanding to stop military actions after four days of conflict that witnessed bouts of intense and escalating fighting, the Press Information Bureau on Wednesday released a detailed backgrounder on how the Indian Air Force bypassed and jammed Pakistan's China-supplied air defence system in just 23 minutes-- considered a big tactical victory that allowed India to gain massive advantage over Islamabad at an early stage of the conflict.

Underlining India's offensive capabilities and accuracy, the note highlighted that the 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.

The note also added that the 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. "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," emphasised the report.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor: India demonstrates Make in India's technological prowess

A special part of the note was dedicated to the successful usage of drones. "The integration of drone warfare into India’s military doctrine owes its success to years of domestic R&D and policy reform. Since 2021, the ban on imported drones and the launch of the PLI (Production Linked Incentive) scheme have catalyzed rapid innovation. The scheme of Production Linked Incentive for drones and drone components of Ministry of Civil Aviation was notified on 30th September, 2021 with a total incentive of Rs 120 crores spread over three Financial Years (FYs), FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24.[10] The future lies in autonomous drones with AI-driven decision-making, and India is already laying the groundwork," underlined the note.

"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," read the backgrounder.

"The fusion of private-sector innovation, public-sector execution, and military vision has enabled India to not only defend its people and territory but also assert its role as a hi-tech military power in the 21st century. In future conflicts, the battlefield will increasingly be shaped by technology. And India, as shown in Operation SINDOOR, is ready, armed with its own innovations, backed by a determined state, and powered by the ingenuity of its people," read the background note.