The Sky Warriors: Operation Sindoor Unveiled - A Book Review

Operation Sindoor, which India launched last year in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, marked the defining moment in India’s counterterrorism response. In that 88-hour-long conflict, India redrew the lines of deterrence, making the harbours of terrorism know that no sanctuary of terror across the border is safe and India has the capability and resolve to destroy and hit everything. 

Illustration by The Geostrata

Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery famously remarked, “If we lose the war in the air, we lose the war and lose it quickly,” highlighting the centrality of air power in kinetic military operations. During Operation Sindoor as well, air power played a pivotal role in destroying terror infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC).

The book, THE SKY WARRIORS: Operation Sindoor Unveiled, which was recently published by Juggernaut Books and authored by defence journalist & NDTV Senior Managing Editor Mr Vishnu Som, is a timely read that analyses the role of air warriors in the success of Operation Sindoor. 

The book is a definitive inside account of Operation Sindoor, as told by the men who flew the missions and planned the strikes. Divided into ten chapters and containing around 256 pages, the book delves into the intricacies of air operations that occurred on May 7th and 8th last year. By means of narrative incidents, it highlights how the IAF leadership orchestrated the formidable strategy under intense operational pressure.

Along with the research and analysis in various chapters, the book possesses an appendix that covers the details about major IAF strikes in Pakistan, along with the verified satellite imagery. In the age where misinformation and disinformation have become tools of strategic warfare, this satellite-verified imagery proves to be a true asset.

It provides details about how Muridke, which functions as Lashkar-e-Taiba’s principal headquarters, was destroyed, which can be verified by the imagery released by Maxar Technologies that showed extensive damage on the rooftops and administrative buildings.

Further, by analysing the massive impact on Bholari, the book analyses how the IAF might have used the SCALP missile fired by the Rafale fighter that not only induced damage to the location but also destroyed the PAF's SAAB Erieye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system. 

What stands out in this book is that the technical details have been presented in a storytelling form from the perspective of the IAF warriors. In one of the incidents, it foregrounds the very first launch of the newly inducted S-400 surface-to-air missile from Adampur Air Base on May 7 by the Indian forces from the point of view of Group Captain Animesh Patni. It says in this context, "We are ready; the target has been assigned to us; we are ready to launch; it is in the kill zone now; we can shoot it down," and that’s how they shot down PAF’s JF-17 'Thunder.' 

The book also sheds light on the most important aspects of warfare, that is, collateral damage. It adds the statements along with the supporting evidence, eliciting that the IAF and Indian forces deliberately chose targets that can lead to minimal or no collateral damage. It quotes the official statement of the IAF, “We have chosen targets very specifically in terms of taking out his capability. We are not interested in targeting areas where people are there, or it could lead to some collateral [damage]...”

The book is as captivating as it is well researched. It is a must-read not only for academicians and scholars but also for all the Indian patriots who wish to uncover the intricacies of what exactly happened during Operation Sindoor. Jai Hind.

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BY DARSHAN GAJJAR

TEAM GEOSTRATA

info@thegeostrata.com