Operation Sindoor, a limited conflict between India and Pakistan, has become a notable chapter in the recent history of the subcontinent. The operation, brief yet intense, underscored the evolving nature of warfare in South Asia. Precision-guided munitions and stand-off weaponry featured prominently in this clash, reflecting a shift away from traditional artillery duels to more technologically advanced engagements.

One of the most significant aspects of Operation Sindoor was India’s reliance on indigenous weapon systems and those acquired over time as part of its long-term capability development strategy. Indian forces deployed a range of home-grown and domestically produced systems, including the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, the Akash surface-to-air missile system, and the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, developed in collaboration with Russia but produced largely in India. This reliance on indigenous or indigenously assembled systems demonstrated India’s growing confidence in its defence industrial base and its persistent push for self-reliance in defence technologies.

Pakistan, by contrast, leaned heavily on foreign military supplies, particularly from China and Turkiye. The Chinese-supplied Wing Loong II armed drones, a mainstay of Pakistan’s unmanned aerial operations, were seen in action, as were Turkish Songar and some other drones, which have earned notoriety in various theatres of conflict, including Libya and Ukraine. Pakistan also fielded the Chinese-made SH-15 self-propelled howitzer and the LY-80 air defence system, along with Turkish precision-guided munitions.

The performance of these foreign-supplied systems turned out to be mixed at best. While some of the drones proved effective in surveillance and harassment missions, they also revealed vulnerabilities when faced with India’s layered air defence systems and electronic warfare capabilities. Some of the drones were reportedly susceptible to jamming and anti-drone measures employed by Indian forces, leading to questions about their suitability in high-intensity, contested environments.

India’s approach of integrating both indigenous and selectively acquired systems appeared more robust in this limited conflict. It allowed Indian forces to employ a broader range of capabilities, tailored to their operational needs and refined through rigorous domestic testing and adaptation. For instance, the use of BrahMos missiles provided India with a stand-off strike option of exceptional speed and accuracy, outmatching many of Pakistan’s comparable systems.

The events of Operation Sindoor also served as an unintentional yet telling demonstration ground for the military hardware of China and Turkiye. Both countries have aggressively marketed their defence products in recent years, touting them as cost-effective alternatives to Western systems. However, the limitations exposed during this conflict, particularly regarding electronic warfare resilience and survivability in contested airspace underscore the need for caution in overestimating these capabilities.

For India, Operation Sindoor validated its steady investment in indigenous weapon systems. It showcased the value of home-grown technology that can be adapted to specific operational doctrines and environmental conditions. This confidence in local production is likely to bolster India’s resolve to expand its domestic defence industry further, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and reinforcing its strategic autonomy.

Looking forward, the mixed performance of Chinese and Turkish systems in Operation Sindoor may prompt Pakistan to reconsider its procurement strategies. At the same time, countries like China and Turkiye will no doubt study the lessons from this limited conflict closely, using the experience to refine their weapon syatems.

The skirmish of Operation Sindoor, though short, has provided a wealth of insights into modern military capabilities and the ongoing regional arms race. It has highlighted the importance of indigenous defence industries, the limitations of imported solutions in complex environments, and the tactical realities of stand-off precision warfare. The articles that follow in this issue will take a closer look at the key hardware deployed by both sides, offering a deeper understanding of how these systems shaped the contours of this brief yet revealing conflict.