Pakistan's attempt to retaliate to 'Operation Sindoor' with a tit-for-tat strike on Indian territory largely failed as its rockets and drones were successfully countered by an integrated air-defence system, a Swiss think tank report said. Conversely, the Indian Air Force (IAF) effectively degraded Islamabad's air-defence system before carrying out "a series of spectacular strikes against Pakistan’s principal Air Force stations," it said. Thus, by achieving clear air superiority, India pushed Islamabad into requesting a ceasefire.
At the cost of roughly fifty long-range munitions, the IAF assessed that they were able to take out at least four or five F-16s, one Erieye [Early Warning and Control System], one C-130 transport aircraft, several MALE [Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance] drones, two radars, two command-and-control centres, and one surface-to-air missile battery which were destroyed on the ground.
The observations were part of a study published by the Centre d'Histoire et de Prospective Militaires (CHPM). It claimed that the effectiveness of India's integrated air-defence system was one of the surprises of the conflict. Conversely, the Indian Air Force managed to significantly degrade the enemy's air-defence system, before going after the principal Air Force stations.
How India outgunned Pakistan
During the final stage of the 88-hour-long conflict, the IAF used its Su-30MKI, Jaguar, and Rafale aircraft to fire BrahMos, SCALP-EG, and Rampage missiles from within its airspace, which struck seven sites up to 200 kilometres inside Pakistan. A PAF command-and-control centre at Nur Khan Air Base and a control centre at Murid Air Base were struck among several other targets during this operation, the study said. Sargodha Air Base in central Pakistan, home to multiple combat squadrons, was rendered inoperative after being repeatedly struck by several Indian missiles at the intersection of its runways. Sukkur Air Base, Rahim Yar Khan Air Base, Murid Air Base, and Rafiqi Air Base were also targeted and hit by India. The strikes were part of New Delhi's quasi-immediate counter-strike after Pakistan had an attack scheduled on the evening of May 9.
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The study had further details on how Pakistan's military infrastructure was humbled by repeated precision pounding: "Indian strikes were even more destructive in the south. At Jacobabad Air Base, an F-16 maintenance hangar suffered a direct hit, while a radar was also damaged or destroyed, along with electrical and cooling facilities. At Bholari Air Base, another hangar housing one or more Erieye aircraft was severely damaged."
YOU CAN READ THE SWISS THINK TANK’S REPORT IN FULL HERE
"Nevertheless, by noon on 10 May, Pakistani military authorities requested a ceasefire from their Indian counterparts. This was quickly accepted, as the political objectives assigned to the military—namely to conduct spectacular retaliatory strikes to deter JeM and LeT while countering the Pakistan military’s response—had been achieved. New Delhi thus claimed to have brought the conflict to a close, whereas other powers repeatedly get bogged down in the conflicts they initiate," the report further said.
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Talking about the conflicts on 9 May, the Swiss think tank said that India's S-400 batteries "surprised the PAF, likely by lying in ambush near the border". It engaged a PAF AEW&C that was flying at a very great distance, spreading fear regarding the safety of other radars located at a similar distance. The cumulative effect of these operations was a drastic reduction in both the extent and quality of Pakistani airspace coverage, it claimed.
What is CHPM?
Founded in 1969, the Centre d'Histoire et de Prospective Militaires, sometimes called the Centre for military history and perspective studies, is an independent research centre that promotes studies dedicated to military history and thinking, and reportedly offers training in strategic and security studies.