By Prakash Sesharaghavachar
In the 1999 Kargil War, the Global Positioning System (GPS) was a crucial tool for precise information gathering and military operations against Pakistani occupied territories. Its assistance was vital for airstrikes and missile attacks to clear enemy strongholds. However, the United States, which controlled GPS, denied India access to the device.
GPS is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that provides accurate positioning information to military, civilian, and commercial users worldwide. If this service had been available during the Kargil War, it would have been easier to locate lost or wounded soldiers. Casualties would have been reduced, and the Kargil operation would have concluded much sooner.
NavIC Navigation System
The lesson learned from America during the Kargil War led India, with ISRO’s help, to decide to develop its own navigation system. In 2015, India successfully developed its own satellite-based navigation system called NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation).
NavIC played a pivotal role in the success of Operation Sindoor. It was instrumental in identifying enemy positions and facilitating retaliatory strikes. NavIC’s contribution was significant in destroying eight terrorist strongholds through aerial attacks.
Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) and Make in India were two powerful weapons that enabled India to access state-of-the-art and superior technology for the Indian army during Operation Sindoor. By not being dependent on others, the army was able to conduct its operations according to its own plan, making Operation Sindoor a success and elevating India’s prestige.
BrahMos Missile
The BrahMos Missile, a key weapon in the Indian army’s arsenal during Operation Sindoor, was used to shatter Pakistani air bases. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself has acknowledged the damage caused by BrahMos missile attacks on his country’s air bases.
The project to develop the missile was signed by India and Russia in 1998 when I.K. Gujral was Prime Minister. The first agreement was signed in 1999 by the Vajpayee government with DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The missile was named “BrahMos” by combining Brahmaputra and Mashinostroyeniya. The BrahMos missile filled India’s lack of its own missile.
Notably, 85% of the components for BrahMos production are manufactured in India. Now, other countries are also showing interest in purchasing the BrahMos missile. Indonesia and the Philippines have already signed agreements to buy it. Due to increasing demand, another production unit is being set up in the Lucknow Defense Corridor.
In Operation Sindoor, the BrahMos supersonic missile acted as a Brahmastra (a divine weapon) in destroying nine Pakistani air bases. The air force’s use of BrahMos allowed them to launch deadly attacks on enemy positions without entering Pakistani airspace, forcing Pakistan to beg for a ceasefire within three and a half days.
After its development, the missile underwent various tests from 2004 to 2018. Finally, during Prime Minister Modi’s tenure, the missile was fully inducted into military service.
“Akash Missile”
Another weapon developed by India is the “Akash” surface-to-air missile. Developed by DRDO, this missile played a crucial role on the night of May 8th in shooting down waves of drones sent by Pakistan, thereby protecting Indian assets. Produced at a cost of only 2.5 crores, this missile has proven successful in countering enemy drone attacks in modern warfare and has emerged as a key weapon in the country’s arsenal.
D-4 Anti-Drone System
The D-4 anti-drone system was developed by DRDO and is being manufactured by BEL under the “Make in India” initiative. It was a vital weapon in Operation Sindoor, detecting and shooting down Pakistan’s Turkish-made drones. It played a primary role in neutralizing the Pakistani army’s strategy and safeguarding our aerial security. This Indian-engineered anti-drone system is another contribution to Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).
Netra AEW&C System
The Netra AEW&C system, developed by DRDO, was indispensable for airborne surveillance and coordination during Operation Sindoor. There was a threat of the conflict with Pakistan spreading to multiple sectors simultaneously. As a solution to this problem, India’s indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system monitored enemy movements and prepared for counter-attacks.
Sky Striker Drones
The SkyStriker drones, developed in a joint collaboration between India and Israel, are based in Bengaluru. These drones were used to attack terrorist hideouts in Bahawalpur and Muridke in Pakistan. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are designed to loiter over the battlefield, detect enemy targets, and destroy them with onboard explosives. In Operation Sindoor, the Pakistani forces had no answer to the rampage of these indigenously built drones.
Rafael Procurement
In 2013, the then Defense Minister A.K. Antony had created controversy in the country regarding the purchase of fighter jets, questioning “Where is the money for India to buy fighter jets?” In 2014, the Modi government directly signed a purchase agreement with the French government and acquired 28 Rafale jets. It was the Rafale aircraft that provided a special edge to India’s aerial attacks for retaliating against Pakistan.
S-400 Sudarshan Chakra
The S-400, purchased from Russia, is the most advanced air defense system. India has renamed it “Sudarshan Chakra.” This Indian Air Force (IAF) S-400 missile system has the capability to detect, track, and destroy aerial threats, including stealth aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. America used to impose economic sanctions on countries that purchased this defense system produced by Russia. However, Prime Minister Modi convinced the world of India’s need for this system for its security, and within just three days, it showed the world what a marvelous job it can do.
Both the Atmanirbharta and Make in India initiatives faced criticism from major opposition parties. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, speaking in Parliament, strongly asserted that Make in India could not succeed and mocked Atmanirbhar Bharat as “China-Nirbhar Bharat.”
Operation Sindoor has opened the door for Indian defense equipment to the world. It is a golden age for the research and development of state-of-the-art equipment. The mantra of self-reliance is ensuring that India’s defense system no longer needs to plead with other countries. Our defense is solely our responsibility; this is not the time to rely on powerful nations.
As India achieves self-reliance in defense equipment production, there is no longer any scope for other countries to pressure us or withdraw their services during emergencies. The Atmanirbharta and Make in India initiatives in the defense sector are the main reasons for us to stand on our own feet.
Prakash Sesharaghavachar, a prominent spokesperson for the Karnataka BJP, shares his insights in this article. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of thebengalurulive.com or Kannada.thebengalurulive.com disclaims any responsibility or liability for the content presented herein. He can be reached at the email address sprakashbjp@gmail.com.
