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.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is on the verge of finalizing a Rs 10,000 crore project to acquire a fleet of Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (I-STAR) aircraft, in a move poised to significantly bolster its airborne intelligence and precision strike capabilities. The clearance for this major acquisition is expected by late June, marking a crucial milestone in India’s defense modernization efforts.

The project involves the procurement of three state-of-the-art spy planes, likely to be based on airframes from global aerospace leaders such as Boeing and Bombardier. These platforms will be equipped with indigenous sensors and data processing systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), ensuring that critical technologies remain under Indian control.

I-STAR platforms are designed to conduct real-time battlefield surveillance, detect enemy movements, and support precision targeting for ground strikes. The concept draws heavily from lessons learned during the 1999 Kargil War, where the IAF’s limited ISR capabilities hindered operational planning. Subsequent reports emphasized the need for dedicated airborne surveillance assets to gain battlefield transparency and strategic advantage.

According to defense analysts, the move mirrors global trends in ISR capability enhancement. A 2023 RAND Corporation study noted that such systems improve battlefield situational awareness by up to 30%, offering a substantial edge in modern warfare. As regional tensions persist, particularly along India’s western and northern borders, the induction of I-STAR aircraft is expected to enhance the IAF’s capacity to monitor and respond to emerging threats.

The initiative is also a part of the broader Make in India defense push, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign imports while fostering indigenous innovation. Though the delivery schedule and integration roadmap are still being finalized, the upcoming I-STAR fleet is seen as a transformative leap in India’s aerial reconnaissance and combat readiness strategy.

In an extraordinary act of medical coordination and military precision, the Indian Air Force (IAF), in collaboration with Command Hospital Air Force Bangalore (CHAFB), has successfully enabled a complex multi-organ transplant operation that has saved the lives of five patients. Conducted on June 7, the operation marks a milestone in India’s integrated defence-healthcare capabilities.

The mission began when a serving soldier, injured in a road accident in Kasaragod, Kerala, was evacuated to CHAFB on February 17, 2025. After extensive efforts to stabilize him, the soldier was declared brain dead. His family’s courageous decision to donate his organs laid the foundation for a life-saving operation spanning multiple cities.

An IAF aircraft airlifted one kidney and a cornea to Army Hospital (Research & Referral) in Delhi. Simultaneously, the second kidney and cornea were transplanted at CHAFB. In a national first, a skin harvesting procedure was conducted at CHAFB in coordination with Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru. The soldier’s liver was transplanted at Gleneagles BGS Hospital, with logistical and clinical support from Jeevansarthakathe Karnataka.

Key to the operation’s success was the creation of a ‘green corridor’ by Bengaluru police, facilitating the swift and uninterrupted transfer of organs from the hospital to the airbase. This method, modeled on international best practices, dramatically reduced transport time and ensured organ viability.

The operation also reflects a growing trend in India. According to the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), cadaver donations have risen by 30% between 2020 and 2024. Medical experts note that military aircraft use can improve organ survival rates by 15–20%, as per a 2023 study published in Transplantation.

The mission has been hailed by both medical professionals and defence officials as a landmark moment in India’s organ transplantation ecosystem, showcasing the vital role of civil-military cooperation in public health.