NextFin News - A detailed investigative report released on January 26, 2026, by the Swiss-based Centre for Military History and Perspective Studies (CHPM) has shed new light on the military dynamics of the 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan. According to the 47-page report titled ‘Operation Sindoor: The India-Pakistan Air War (7-10 May 2025)’, the Indian Air Force (IAF) achieved such overwhelming air dominance that Islamabad was left with no strategic alternative but to request an immediate ceasefire. The report details how a series of “spectacular strikes” between May 7 and May 10, 2025, systematically dismantled Pakistan’s air defense architecture and grounded its primary combat squadrons.
The conflict reached its zenith in the early hours of May 10, 2025, when Indian intelligence detected preparations for a major Pakistani offensive. In a preemptive counterstrike executed between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM, the IAF deployed a sophisticated mix of Su-30MKI, Jaguar, and Rafale jets. Operating primarily from within Indian airspace to minimize risk, these platforms launched a barrage of BrahMos, SCALP-EG, and Rampage missiles. The strikes targeted seven critical installations up to 200 kilometers inside Pakistani territory, including the Nur Khan, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Rafiqi, and Sukkur airbases. Most notably, the Sargodha airbase—a central hub for Pakistan’s elite combat units—was rendered inoperative after precision hits at the intersections of its runways.
The scale of the tactical victory was underscored by the destruction of high-value assets on the ground. According to CHPM, the IAF successfully destroyed at least five F-16 fighter jets, one surveillance aircraft, a C-130 transport plane, and multiple command-and-control centers. At the Jacobabad airbase, a direct hit on an F-16 maintenance hangar and the destruction of critical cooling and electrical facilities effectively paralyzed the base's operational readiness. This rapid degradation of Pakistan’s aerial capabilities created a “capability gap” that Islamabad could not bridge, leading to the ceasefire appeal that ended the four-day engagement.
The success of Operation Sindoor can be attributed to India’s integrated approach to modern warfare, particularly its investment in networked air defense. The report highlights the role of the Russian-origin S-400 Triumf system, which reportedly ambushed a Pakistani aircraft orbiting 300 kilometers inside its own territory. This long-range engagement capability, combined with the Integrated Air Command, Control and Communication System (IACCCS), allowed the IAF to maintain a real-time recognized air picture. By integrating the Army’s Akashteer system and naval sensors, India achieved a level of situational awareness that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) could not counter.
Furthermore, the use of Israeli-origin Harop and Harpy loitering munitions played a pivotal role in the initial phases of the operation. On May 8 and 9, these “suicide drones” targeted twelve Pakistani surveillance radars and surface-to-air missile batteries. This systematic “blinding” of the enemy allowed Indian strike packages to operate with near-impunity during the final, decisive raids. The CHPM analysis suggests that India’s domestic information technology sector was instrumental in developing the robust communication networks that facilitated this multi-domain coordination.
From a strategic perspective, Operation Sindoor marks a departure from traditional attrition-based warfare toward a doctrine of “compellence through precision.” The ability of the IAF to achieve its objectives without significant loss of life or prolonged ground engagement demonstrates a maturing of India’s military-industrial complex. For Pakistan, the conflict exposed critical vulnerabilities in its aging fleet and its reliance on fragmented defense systems. The destruction of F-16s on the ground, in particular, serves as a stark reminder of the limitations of high-end platforms when they lack the support of a comprehensive, networked defense umbrella.
Looking forward, the events of May 2025 are likely to accelerate the arms race in South Asia, with a renewed focus on electronic warfare, long-range stand-off weapons, and autonomous systems. U.S. President Trump, who assumed office in January 2025, has maintained a policy of strategic balance in the region, though the sheer efficacy of Indian air power may prompt a reassessment of regional security frameworks. As India continues to integrate AI-driven surveillance and indigenous missile technology, the threshold for conventional conflict in the subcontinent is being redefined by those who control the electromagnetic and aerial domains.
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