How IAF used dummy aircraft to lure Pak radars before precision strikes
This prompted Pakistan to activate its defence network to deter the ‘incoming enemy aircraft’, a move that disclosed their location to the Indian side
While India delivered a strong message by striking nine terror hubs in Pakistan under its coordinated military retaliation codenamed Operation Sindoor, interesting details are now emerging on how the Indian Air Force outwitted the Pakistani radar and air defence systems by deploying dummy aircraft.
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“The Indian Air Force (IAF) used dummy aircraft disguised as fighter jets to bait and disable Pakistan's Chinese-supplied air defence systems during Operation Sindoor,” said a report by news agency ANI, citing highly-placed defence sources.
Well-planned deception
It was on the night of May 9–10 when India struck 11 out of 12 key Pakistani air bases. However, before launching its wave of missile attacks, the IAF first sent in unmanned target aircraft camouflaged to mimic real fighter aircraft.
This prompted the Pakistani side to activate its defence network to deter the ‘incoming enemy aircraft’. However, the move disclosed their location to the Indian side, leading the Indian forces to target Pakistan’s air defence radars and command and control systems using loitering ammunition and Israeli-made Harops.
The Pakistan Air Force mobilised its entire set of HQ-9 air defence missile system launchers and radars to different locations, and some of them were deployed at new locations but were detected after being activated, ANI reported.
Long-range missile attacks
The Indian Air Force then followed up with the long-range missile attacks on the Pakistani air bases, which included the BrahMos and Scalp missiles. Around 15 BrahMos missiles and Scalp, Rampage and Crystal Maze missiles were launched in the offensive.
These strikes disabled airstrips, hangars, and communication infrastructure across Pakistan’s air force network, reportedly damaging an airborne early warning aircraft and several long-endurance drones in Sindh.
According to defence sources, this is the first known operational use of the BrahMos missile system in active conflict.
Sources told ANI that the strikes on its air bases were so intense that the Pakistani side dropped all plans for a counter to the capitulation of their air defence system and urgently requested DGMO talks to arrive at an “understanding” with India to bring to a halt all military action going forward.
Pak drones destroyed
Meanwhile, over 600 Pakistani drones were intercepted and destroyed by Indian defence systems during Operation Sindoor, as the Pakistan Army attempted to target Indian cities in retaliation for India's strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
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In response to the persistent drone incursions, the Indian armed forces activated an extensive air defence umbrella, deploying over 1000 anti-aircraft guns spanning the Line of Control (LoC) to the International Border (IB). This layered defence was further strengthened by the deployment of more than 750 short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems designed to engage larger aerial threats.
The effectiveness of this integrated air defence system was significantly enhanced by the Akash Tir system, which monitored, tracked, and conveyed information to the air defence batteries of every aerial target that intruded within the Indian border. A few months ago, Akash Tir and the Integrated Aerial Command and Control System (IACCS) of the Air Force were added under the Akash Tir project.