The fast, multidomain army marketing campaign Operation Sindoor not solely dismantled cross-border terror networks however turned a full-scale validation of India’s defence transformation, a number one American defence analyst stated on Thursday.
In his in depth evaluation titled ‘India’s Operation Sindoor: A Battlefield Verdict on Chinese language Weapons — And India’s Victory’, high city warfare skilled John Spencer reckoned that Operation Sindoor wasn’t only a army marketing campaign however a know-how demonstration, a market sign, and a strategic blueprint.
“India confirmed the world what self-reliance in fashionable warfare appears to be like like — and proved that ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ works beneath fireplace,” Spencer wrote.
“Operation Sindoor pitted India’s indigenously developed weapons programs towards Chinese language-supplied platforms fielded by Pakistan. And India did not simply win on the battlefield — it received the know-how referendum. What unfolded was not simply retaliation, however the strategic debut of a sovereign arsenal constructed beneath the dual doctrines of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he added.
Spencer, at the moment the Chair of city warfare research on the Fashionable Battle Institute and a Co-Director of the City Warfare Venture, said that “Pakistan’s proxy dependency” was no match to “India’s sovereign energy” throughout Operation Sindoor which demolished terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan after the heinous April 22 Pahalgam terror assault.
“India fought as a sovereign energy — wielding precision instruments it designed, constructed, and deployed with unmatched battlefield management. Pakistan fought as a proxy power, depending on Chinese language {hardware} that was constructed for export, not for excellence. When challenged, these programs failed — exposing the strategic hollowness behind Islamabad’s defence posture,” Spencer wrote.
Spencer additionally detailed how India’s transformation into a contemporary defence energy started in 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The aim, he stated, was clear: cut back dependence on international arms imports and construct a world-class home defence business.
“The coverage incentivized joint ventures, opened defence to international direct funding as much as 74 per cent, and inspired each private and non-private sector producers to construct subtle army {hardware} at dwelling. Inside just a few years, programs just like the BrahMos missile, K9 Vajra howitzer, and AK-203 rifle have been being produced inside India—many with know-how partnerships however growing home management,” he said.
Heaping reward on PM Modi, he highlighted how ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, or a self-reliant India, turned a nationwide safety doctrine than simply an financial coverage following the mixed shock of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Galwan Valley conflict with China.
“India imposed phased bans on key defence imports, gave the armed forces emergency procurement powers, and poured funding into indigenous analysis, design, and manufacturing. By 2025, India had elevated home content material in defence procurement from 30 per cent to 65 per cent, with a aim of 90 per cent by the last decade’s finish,” he stated.
India’s new doctrine, the main skilled reckons, was examined beneath fireplace on April 22 when Pakistan-backed militants killed 26 Indian civilians in a terror assault in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley.
Spencer then goes on to clarify intimately how India’s arsenal proved simply an excessive amount of for Pakistan.
Collectively developed with Russia and now largely manufactured in India, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles was used to strike high-value targets like radar stations and hardened bunkers.
“Its velocity and low radar cross-section make it almost inconceivable to intercept,” says Spencer.
The Akash surface-to-air missile, developed by the Defence Analysis and Growth Organisation (DRDO), India’s premier army analysis and growth company, and Bharat Dynamics, enabled coordinated response to a number of airborne threats – together with drones, cruise missiles, and plane. It was built-in with the Akashteer Command & Management System, an AI-enhanced air defence community that gives real-time knowledge fusion,
India’s first indigenously developed anti-radiation missile, Rudram-1 was additionally deployed to silence Pakistani ground-based radars and degrade situational consciousness in key sectors of the Line of Management (LoC).
Spencer additionally talked about how Netra Airborne Early Warning and Management (AEW&C), additionally constructed by DRDO on an Embraer platform, supplied real-time monitoring of enemy plane and missiles, vectoring Indian jets for deep-strike missions.
“Its effectiveness was evident when Pakistan’s Swedish Saab 2000 AEW&C was destroyed by a long-range missile,” stated Spencer.
India additionally deployed Harop and SkyStriker drones — precision-guided ‘Kamikaze’ munitions that loiter over the battlefield and dive onto enemy targets. Harop is manufactured beneath license by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Bharat Electronics Restricted (BEL) whereas SkyStriker is assembled domestically by an Elbit three way partnership. They have been used to destroy cell radars, convoys, and high-value enemy infrastructure with minimal collateral injury.
On the similar time, India’s Drone Detect, Deter, and Destroy System (D4S) neutralised dozens of Chinese language-made Pakistani drones. The system displays India’s transition from reactive air defence to proactive digital warfare dominance.
Imported from the US however built-in into Indian mountain warfare doctrine, the M777 Extremely-Gentle Howitzer was used with Excalibur precision-guided shells to strike terrorist camps with out crossing the LoC. Spencer talked about how its airliftability and fast deployment made it excellent for high-altitude operations.
India additionally deployed upgraded T-72s alongside the LoC for overwatch roles. The Zorawar, a brand new mild tank optimized for high-altitude terrain, is beneath growth and these programs sign India’s continued funding in mobility and firepower in difficult Himalayan terrain, Specner wrote.
Writing on India’s deployment of a few of its most superior fighter jets throughout Operation Sindoor, Spencer stated that the Rafales led deep precision strikes utilizing SCALP long-range cruise missiles to hit fortified enemy positions. It additionally carried Meteor air-to-air missiles, able to hitting targets over 100 kilometers away—giving India a decisive edge in air fight.
In the meantime, the Su-30MKI, a Russian-designed twin-engine heavy fighter constructed beneath license in India, and the Mirage 2000, one other versatile French jet, supplied firepower and suppleness, launching a number of strike packages and guaranteeing airspace management.
“These jets flew beneath the protecting umbrella of the Netra Airborne Early Warning and Management (AEW&C) system, which acted like a watch within the sky—monitoring enemy plane and coordinating the battlespace. In the meantime, Rudram anti-radiation missiles have been utilized in Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) missions, disabling enemy radar and air defence programs to make sure protected air operations,” the skilled on army operatons detailed.
However, Spencer gave an in depth Pakistan’s strategic failures, additionally giving an in depth account of failure of Chinese language programs.
Throughout Operation Sindoor, he wrote, the JF-17 Thunder plane – produced in Pakistan however designed and constructed by China’s AVIC – failed to achieve air superiority or contest Indian strikes.
“Their restricted payload, outdated radar, and poor survivability have been evident beneath Indian EW and air defence strain,” stated Spencer.
With the F-16 Preventing Falcons sidelined by US end-user agreements throughout Operation Sindoor, Pakistan was left and not using a frontline air dominance platform.
“Chinese language imitations of Russia’s S-300 and Buk programs, the HQ-9 and HQ-16 have been deployed to intercept Indian air and missile assaults. Nonetheless, they failed beneath India’s jamming and deception operations. These programs have been simply bypassed by BrahMos and loitering drones, revealing vital weaknesses.”
The LY-80 and FM-90 air defence programs, additionally Chinese language-made, have been unable to detect or cease India’s low-flying drones and precision munitions.
This, stated Spencer, compelled Pakistan to depend on passive air defence reasonably than any credible kinetic response.
Additionally used extensively by Pakistan for ISR and light-weight strike roles, the CH-4s have been repeatedly downed or jammed, underperforming in terrain and digital environments dominated by India’s D4S system.
“Studies emerged that Turkish drone operators needed to be introduced in to handle UAVs — revealing each gear and personnel dependency,” stated Spencer.
Pakistan’s key airborne early warning platform, Swedish Saab 2000 AEW&C, was destroyed — possible by an S-400 system — crippling Pakistan’s airspace consciousness and blinding command and management features.
“By the tip of the marketing campaign, Pakistan had misplaced key radar stations, its premier AEW&C plane, dozens of drones, and its capacity to contest Indian airspace,” concluded Spencer.
He additionally talked about how India’s defence shares surged in Might, gaining investor belief whereas, in distinction, the Chinese language defence shares fell sharply after Operation Sindoor with AVIC, NORINCO, CETC — all taking hits because the battlefield disproved their advertising and marketing.