PM Modi Hails Operation Sindoor as Landmark for Made-in-India Missiles and Drones

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Operation Sindoor as a turning point in India's war against terrorism, demonstrating the efficacy and credibility of Made-in-India drones and missile technology. In his first national speech since the success of the operation, Modi underlined that this operation is a new normal for India's security policy, sending a strong message to Pakistan and setting a benchmark for future counter-terror operations.

Key Highlights

Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. In the early hours of May 7, Indian forces struck nine major terrorist targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, described by Modi as “global universities of terror.”

More than 100 terrorists, including some of the most senior commanders who had been roaming free for decades, were killed in targeted attacks. Modi said that this move left Pakistan "desperate" and revealed its weaknesses on the international stage.

Pakistan responded by attacking Indian military and civilian locations with drones and missiles. India's sophisticated network of air defense systems-including the domestic Akash missile system, S-400 Triumph, Barak-8, and anti-drone technologies developed by DRDO-detected and deflected every approaching threat. Modi pointed out the way "Pakistan's drones and missiles got scattered like straws," emphasizing Indian systems' supremacy.

Operation Sindoor saw indigenous arms take center stage. The Akash surface-to-air missile system was very effective in countering drone penetrations, while the anti-drone D-4 system, built by DRDO and Bharat Electronics Ltd, effectively neutralized a fleet of Pakistani and Turkish-origin drones.

The operation also witnessed the use of domestic loitering munitions like Nagastra-1 and SkyStriker drones, which carried out precision kamikaze attacks on high-value targets. These systems, which were developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat program, showcased India's increasing self-reliance and technological superiority in contemporary warfare.

Modi listed three pillars of the new security paradigm: decisive retaliation against any terror attack, zero tolerance for nuclear blackmail, and no differentiation between terrorists and their patrons. He emphasized that India will now take on threats on its own terms, going after the roots of terror infrastructure.

The success of the operation has improved India's status as a defence exporter, and indigenous systems like Akash are evoking interest from nations like Armenia, the Philippines, Egypt, and Brazil.

Operation Sindoor is a believable proof of India's indigenous defence prowess, a new standard for counter-terror operations and a revalidation of the nation's adherence to self-reliance and stringent security.

Sources: Times of India, NDTV, Hindustan Times, Economic Times, India Today