A month after India’s bold aerial counter-offensive against Pakistan, new intelligence and action reports have surfaced, revealing the full scale of Operation Sindoor. According to the Hindustan Times, the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched 19 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles targeting key Pakistani airbases between May 7 and May 10, in one of the largest coordinated missile strikes in South Asia in recent history.
In addition to the BrahMos missiles, the IAF deployed 19 French-origin SCALP subsonic cruise missiles as part of the same mission. These strikes were aimed at crippling Pakistan’s retaliatory capabilities and eliminating terror infrastructure, including a direct hit on the Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters using Israeli-origin Crystal Maze missiles.
The Defence Ministry, under the leadership of Rajnath Singh, has since approved the replenishment and expansion of India’s missile and drone stockpile. This includes loitering munitions, longer-range air-to-air missiles, and Kamikaze drones, reflecting a strategic shift towards enhanced deterrence and rapid retaliation.
Digital surveillance and battle damage assessment reports now confirm that Pakistan lost four combat aircraft and two large transport planes during the strikes. In response, Pakistan fired PL-15 air-to-air missiles, Chinese-made weapons that attempted to repel the Indian aerial assault. Additionally, Pakistani forces activated two air defense fire units from Malir and Chaklala cantonments near Karachi in a failed attempt to intercept the incoming missile barrage.
The extent of the offensive underscores India’s evolving airpower doctrine, where rapid precision strikes are central to neutralizing threats. Operation Sindoor is now being seen as a defining moment in India’s military response policy and aerial warfare capability, backed by superior technology and intelligence coordination.
