Source: indianexpress

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Context

Operation Sindoor a decisive military campaign carried out by India in May 2025 against terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was not only a military success but also a landmark demonstration of India’s indigenous defence capabilities.

The operation showcased the technological maturity, strategic depth and operational integration of Made-in-India systems developed by DRDO, ISRO and Indian defence manufacturers.

Significance of Operation Sindoor

It marked the first high-scale demonstration of India’s layered, indigenously-developed air defence and offensive systems in an active theatre.

 The operation served to:

Neutralize terror threats,

Demonstrate credible deterrence against Pakistan,

Project India’s technological self-reliance to the international community.

Indigenous Guidance and Navigation Systems

Pinpoint precision in missile strikes deep into enemy territory.

 Minimisation of collateral damage enhancing India's global image as a responsible power.

 Technological Backbone

NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation):

Indigenous satellite navigation system.

Achieves positional accuracy of 10–20 cm.

 Cartosat, RISAT and EOS Satellites:

Provide sub-metre resolution images.

Enabled precision targeting of structures within enemy compounds.

 DRDO & ISRO collaboration:

Years of R&D in navigation and earth observation made real-time battlefield awareness possible.

 Lethality and Destructive Power of Indigenous Weapons

Complete annihilation of targeted terror camps and Pakistani airbases.

 Sub-surface craters visible in satellite images indicating deep penetration.

 Technological Backbone

BrahMos Cruise Missiles (India-Russia collaboration with Indian guidance systems).

 Warheads and Fuses:

Developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

Ensure reliability and enhanced destructive capability.

 Emerging Technologies

Green Explosives and Deep Penetration Warheads under development.

 Directed Energy Weapons:

Laser-based systems likely used to neutralize enemy drones.

DEWs are part of India’s 18 priority sectors under the Defence Ministry.

 Indian Air Defence Superiority

Almost complete neutralization of enemy drones and missile attacks.

Combination of foreign systems like S-400 with indigenous radars and interceptors.

Technological Backbone

Indigenous Radars:

Rajendra, Rohini, 3D Medium-Range Radars, LLTRs (Low-Level Transportable Radars).

Enabled 360° detection, tracking and interception.

 Missile Systems:

Akash: Short-to-medium range SAM system.

SAMAR: New Surface-to-Air Missile for assured retaliation.

Upgraded Bofors guns with EO sensors and auto-tracking for anti-drone warfare.

 AI Integration and Future R&D

AI-enabled radars, stealth detection, cognitive reconfigurable surfaces.

Focus on smart signal processing and foliage penetration radar systems.

 Unmanned Systems and Drones

First large-scale deployment of unmanned vehicles by India in active cross-border operations.

India’s drones successfully penetrated Pakistani airspace targeting strategic infrastructure.

Technological Backbone

Indigenous drone technologies developed by:

National Aerospace Laboratories

DRDO and emerging private players. 

Applications:

Reconnaissance, electronic warfare, targeted strikes.

 Ongoing efforts to:

Secure raw material supply chains.

Enhance scalability of drone manufacturing.

Integration of Space-Based Assets in Warfare

Real-time surveillance, mission planning and strike assessment.

24/7 satellite watch over the subcontinent.

Technological Backbone

ISRO’s military-grade satellites:

Support operations with night vision, all-weather capabilities.

Fusion of geospatial intelligence and military decision-making.

DRDO-ISRO synergy facilitated seamless data transfer and operational command.

Institutional Support and Long-term Vision

Key Contributors

DRDO: Core R&D body for missiles, guidance, radar and weapon systems.

ISRO: Vital partner in satellite-based military support.

CSIR-NAL: Advanced drone and aerospace innovations.

Private Industry Participation under Make in India and iDEX.

Visionary Initiatives

Anusandhan Chintan Shivir (2023):

Identified 75 critical technology areas.

Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020:

Priority to indigenously designed, developed and manufactured (IDDM) equipment.

Way Forward

Sources:

indianexpress