The Indian Air Power (IAF) established decisive air superiority over massive swathes of Pakistan throughout Operation Sindoor, executing deep strikes and inflicting important injury that compelled Islamabad to hunt a ceasefire inside days in Might final 12 months, in response to an in depth evaluation by a Switzerland-based army assume tank.
The 47-page report, ready by the Centre for Navy Historical past and Perspective Research (CHPM), says Pakistan was successfully “coerced” into agreeing to a ceasefire after shedding the power to contest Indian air operations throughout the four-day battle.
By the ultimate part of the engagement, the IAF loved the liberty to conduct long-range precision strikes at will, whereas the Pakistan Air Power (PAF) had misplaced the aptitude to mount efficient counter-attacks, the report notes. By the morning of Might 10, Indian air superiority enabled sustained strikes deep inside Pakistani territory utilizing long-range munitions akin to BrahMos and SCALP-EG missiles.
In distinction, Pakistani air operations had been severely constrained following the lack of ahead surveillance radars and the menace posed by India’s S-400 air defence methods, significantly to Pak Air Power airborne early warning plane.
In keeping with the examine, the IAF launched two strike packages on the evening of Might 7, deploying Rafale and Mirage-2000 fighter jets to focus on the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke. One strike formation reportedly penetrated Pakistani airspace at low altitude earlier than executing a pop-up assault designed to attract interception.
Pakistan responded by scrambling greater than 30 fighter plane and firing PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles, with Rafales recognized as precedence targets, the doc says.
PAK’S AIRCRAFT LOSS CLAIMS WITHOUT EVIDENCE
Whereas Pakistan claimed it had shot down six Indian plane, the Swiss evaluation says visible proof helps the lack of just one Rafale, one Mirage-2000 and one further fighter, assessed as both a MiG-29 or a Su-30MKI. India has rejected Pakistan’s claims of Indian plane losses.
The report additionally notes the restoration of a number of PL-15 missile casings on Indian territory, suggesting that a number of IAF pilots efficiently evaded incoming missiles.
DRONE OFFENSIVE BLUNTED
Starting Might 7, Pakistan launched a large-scale drone and missile offensive, deploying greater than 300 drones within the first wave and round 600 within the second, together with artillery rockets, ballistic missiles and air-launched munitions. Targets included Indian Military positions, air bases, logistics hubs and air-defence methods.
The target, the report says, was to power Indian radars to activate so that they might be mapped and neutralised. Nevertheless, India’s layered air-defence community — supported by jamming, spoofing and sensor fusion — intercepted most threats. Greater than half of the drones had been reportedly introduced down by anti-aircraft weapons alone.
The examine credit the combination of the IAF’s Built-in Air Command and Management System with the Military’s Akashteer community, enabling Indian forces to activate radars solely briefly and deny Pakistan correct triangulation of air-defence positions. Regardless of repeated makes an attempt, Pakistan did not map India’s digital order of battle.
THIRD WAVE FAILS, INDIA STRIKES DEEP
Pakistan’s largest assault got here on the evening of Might 9-10, specializing in air bases and close by S-400 batteries at Adampur, Srinagar and Kutch. Regardless of intensive use of drones, digital jamming and fighter plane, the hassle did not breach Indian defences. Claims of harm to S-400 methods weren’t supported by verifiable proof, the report says.
India responded between 2 am and 5 am on Might 10 with long-range missile strikes launched from inside Indian airspace, concentrating on Pakistani air bases, radar installations and surface-to-air missile websites. A second wave at 10 am expanded the goal set to incorporate manned plane on the bottom. A number of Pakistani air bases had been rendered inoperative, with runways cratered and hangars destroyed.
DAMAGE AND CEASEFIRE
The Indian Air Power assessed that the strikes destroyed 4 to 5 fighter plane, one airborne early warning plane, one transport plane, a number of drones, and several other radars, command centres and a surface-to-air missile battery. Pakistan acknowledged casualties at one air base however disputed the extent of the injury.
By noon on Might 10, Pakistani army authorities sought a ceasefire, which India accepted.
The report concludes that India achieved its political and army targets by delivering punitive strikes towards terror infrastructure, neutralising Pakistan’s air response and stopping escalation past outlined limits. In contrast to many fashionable conflicts that spiral into extended engagements, the confrontation ended swiftly, it provides.
The report titled Operation Sindoor: The India-Pakistan Air Struggle (7–10 Might 2025) was authored by Swiss army historian Adrien Fontanellaz and translated by Benedict Smith, a former French defence attache to India. Its overview panel included a retired Swiss Air Power Main Common and former Chief of Employees of the Swiss Armed Forces, a defence strategist and political scientist, and a global safety and armament coverage knowledgeable.
– Ends
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