India’s resolute response to Pakistan’s heinous terrorist act of April 22 at Pahalgam was a global demonstration of India’s strategic shift from a defensive mindset to one that is pluralistically assertive in intent and proactive in execution. In essence, it is a policy of strategic autonomy in political thinking, calibrated diplomatic outreach and precise military execution, heralding a triumph of strength, strategy, and sovereignty. Axiomatically, in the annals of modern history, this moment stands tall as a testament to India’s unflinching resolve and military strength, which marked the emergence of a new strategic doctrine specifically to address cross-border terrorism calibrated against an imminent potential for escalation, including nuclear retribution. That signals India’s rise as a formidable, self-assured power capable of defending its sovereignty with precision, poise and purpose.
In an era where prolonged military engagement has become the order of the day, Operation Sindoor was objective-specific and precisely calibrated to achieve a limited political aim, albeit with a profound impact across the operational spectrum. The employment of CIS border long-range weapon systems for precision engagement was unique and marked a departure from the past conventional operational dynamics. Never have these been used against targets deep inside the adversary’s heartland across the entire frontage, which ipso facto had all the potential for a severe military retaliation, transforming the intervention into a full-blown conventional military confrontation with or without a nuclear backdrop. That apart, a robust air and missile defence system was a game changer in neutralising swarms of drone attacks as well as Chinese-made missiles, whose effectiveness was the precursor to swift airstrikes deep into Pakistan’s strategic depth, buttressed by a seamless integration of intelligence backed by a robust naval dominance. Cumulatively, this thunderous barrage of fire from land and air echoed to the world of India’s might.
In military terms, it heralds a shift from a focus on large-scale conventional warfare to a more flexible, technology-driven approach that includes rapid response capabilities, precision strikes, and a willingness to operate below the nuclear threshold. It also marked the shift in strategic thinking from a purely reactive stance to a more proactive offensive approach, aiming to deter Pakistan’s support for terrorism and punish its transgressions while astutely remaining well within the nuclear threshold. It also signals the strategic clarity at the political level, demonstrating a clear understanding of its desired objectives and the potential consequences of its actions while emphasising its sovereignty and resolve in safeguarding it against all odds. In doing so, the operation was a message — sharp, clear, and unambiguous, wherein for the first time since 1971, Pakistan felt the full weight of Indian strength beyond contested borders. The myth of impunity for terror proxies has also been shattered beyond measure, thereby redefining the rules of engagement. The Indian Air Force struck with surgical precision while remaining within the confines of our own air space, the Army’s artillery created tremors across enemy positions, the air defence shield, once theoretical, proved itself as a steel wall in practice — thwarting incoming threats and securing our skies while the Navy stood vigilant, asserting our presence across the seas thereby cocooning the nation against an imminent onslaught.
Op Sindoor demonstrated cutting-edge home-grown military technology, with a clear message to global defence markets that India has come of age in defence manufacture. The sudden surge in demand for critical missiles used in the operation speaks volumes about its reach, besides slowly but steadily becoming a strong competitor to the existing defence exporting countries
Spectrum of Strategic Military Doctrine
The spectrum of strategic military doctrine warrants a credible deterrence against an adversary with symmetric military wherewithal while ensuring punitive deterrence against those with asymmetric hardware. In either scenario, transitioning to a hot war engagement must be inherent and noncompromising, thereby showcasing India’s clarity of purpose on the global stage. This operation has not only strengthened our national morale but sent a resounding message to all those who seek to disturb our peace and tranquillity that the cost of provocation will be unbearable.
Conventional warfare is now slowly becoming a thing of the past. Large-scale blitzkrieg-type operations across extended frontages designed for deep penetrative manoeuvres based on all arms mechanised elements have since been relegated but not rendered obsolescent. In its place, non-contact battles using long-range artillery and drones have gained centre stage, forming a transformative force. In addition, operations per se have to be multi-domain, addressing land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace, involving synchronised capabilities from each domain to create a unified and synergistic effect, thereby gaining a decisive advantage over adversaries. This approach recognises that modern conflicts involve adversaries operating across multiple environments, requiring a holistic and interconnected response.
What is also interesting is the technological infusion into the capabilities of asymmetric warfare. Non-state actors are increasingly becoming lethal by using innovative techniques in target acquisition and precision engagement, negating conventional countermeasures. Thus, the escalation matrix will see a rapid transition from an asymmetric engagement to conventional non-contact confrontation over a protracted contact period. Thus, the military wherewithal has to be suitably tailored to address the operational dynamics of each domain, more focused on cyber and space. India is today poised to address these challenges domestically to a large extent.
India’s defence industry
Operation Sindoor added yet another significant dimension to national security. It proved to be a watershed moment for India’s defence industry. For the first time in India’s history, made-in-India defence equipment played a pivotal role in both offensive and defensive missions. While lethal weapons such as BrahMos and Sky Striker decimated Pakistani terror and military targets, air defensive systems, the likes of the Integrated Air Combat and Control System (IACCS), Akashteer, Akash, and the Drone-Detect, Deter and Destroy (D4) system demonstrated their prowess in shielding India’s land and skies from the barrage of Pakistani missile and drone attacks. This operation was more than a stunningly successful military campaign; it was a demonstration of cutting-edge home-grown military technology with a clear message to global defence markets that India has come of age in defence manufacture. Needless to emphasise, India engaged the conflict as a sovereign power, utilising precision weaponry that was independently designed, manufactured, and deployed with superior battlefield command. In contrast, Pakistan operated as a proxy force, relying heavily on Chinese military hardware and equipment produced primarily for export rather than for battlefield superiority. When put to the test, these systems faltered miserably, revealing the fundamental weaknesses in Islamabad’s defence strategy and shortcomings of Chinese-made weapons systems.
Therefore, from an operational perspective, the indigenous capabilities alluded to have proved effective in ensuring long-range penetration using a mix of platforms and a credible anti-missile and drone protection posture. Hence, the use of indigenous weapons and systems provided India with a strategic advantage in terms of operational flexibility, besides ensuring battlefield sustainability – a key factor in today’s conflict engagement. However, grey areas in aviation and maritime equipment need to be addressed post haste with a liberal budgetary provision to bring India’s military capability of self-reliance and self-sufficiency into the global centre stage in the medium and long term.
The success will largely depend on greater political commitment to domestic R&D projects, particularly those that are vital for self-reliance in critical defence technologies across operational domains. One key area that requires governmental intervention is the symbiotic fusion of industry and academia to facilitate the incubation of cutting-edge technologies
Indian Defence Exports
The successful employment of made-in-India weapons has given an impetus to India’s defence sector, boosting global demand. India’s defence production has grown from Rs 74,054 crore in 2016-17 to almost double to touch Rs 1,46,000 crore in 2024-25. Of the total production, nearly Rs 32,000 crore (or 22%) has been the contribution by the private sector. This is by no means an understated achievement for Indian private companies, who were not even permitted to manufacture arms at the turn of the century. Synonymous with this, defence exports which stood at a paltry Rs 1,522 crore in 2016-17, have multiplied 16 times to reach Rs 23,622 crore in 2024-25 covering a wide range of weapons and platforms to, include BrahMos a long-range, ramjet-powered supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, fighter aircraft or transporter erector launcher (TEL), Pinaka rocket launcher, Dornier aircraft, armoured vehicles, offshore patrol vessels, artillery guns and munitions, among others.
Boosting Indigenisation and Innovation
India’s domestic defence industry has come of age. To provide a ballast to India’s indigenisation process, the effort spearheaded by initiatives like the ‘Make in India’ programme and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat aims to reduce import reliance and boost domestic defence manufacture. To this extent, the figures enunciated above give a fair picture of the success of these initiatives. However, success will largely depend on greater political commitment to domestic R&D projects, particularly those that are vital for self-reliance in critical defence technologies across operational domains. One key area that requires governmental intervention is the symbiotic fusion of industry and academia to facilitate the incubation of cutting-edge technologies.
Suggested measures to enhance defence indigenisation and modernisation:
Strengthen Defence R&D and Technology Ecosystem: India must substantially boost investment in defence R&D by incentivising joint research between DRDO, private firms, academia, and start-ups.
Establishing dedicated Defence Technology Incubation Hubs across industrial corridors can nurture innovation.
The focus should shift to cutting-edge domains such as AI, hypersonics, directed energy weapons, and stealth tech.
India must substantially boost investment in defence R&D, and focus should shift to cutting-edge domains such as AI, hypersonics, directed energy weapons, and stealth technology. Faster commercialisation of lab-developed technologies through public-private partnerships is essential to bridge the gap between innovation and deployment in battlefield conditions
Faster commercialisation of lab-developed technologies through public-private partnerships is essential to bridge the gap between innovation and deployment in battlefield conditions.
Deepen private sector and MSME Integration to streamline defence procurement frameworks to ensure greater predictability and visibility of orders for private players and MSMEs.
Earmarking procurement quotas specifically for indigenous private firms, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, to decentralise manufacturing.
Ensuring faster payments, single-window clearances, and simpler compliance to enhance MSME participation.
Dedicated support cells within the MoD to assist MSMEs in certification and technical processes. This will unlock grassroots innovation and build a wider supply chain network.
Accelerate Defence Acquisition Reforms: Procurement timelines must be drastically compressed through integrated project teams and digital monitoring tools under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP).
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approvals should follow a fixed calendar to avoid strategic delays. Strengthening lifecycle costing, indigenisation index, and Make-I/II/III categories will improve procurement quality.
Institutionalising feedback loops between users, developers, and decision-makers can ensure outcome-driven modernisation.
Enhance Testing, Trials, and Certification Infrastructure: India must rapidly scale up and modernise testing and certification facilities, especially for UAVs, AI-driven platforms, electronic warfare, and high-end communication systems.
Adopt a public-private partnership model to create dual-use testing facilities in Defence Corridors.
Fast-track certification mechanisms, guided by realistic military requirements, should replace the one-size-fits-all approach.
Create Long-Term Strategic Partnerships with Global Original Equipment Manufacturers: Rather than stopgap technology transfers, India should pursue strategic co-development and joint production partnerships in emerging domains.
Defence diplomacy must integrate technology tie-ups with like-minded nations under Quad, I2U2, or bilateral formats.
India can leverage its large defence market as a strategic bargaining chip for ToT and IP sharing. This approach will indigenise technology, not just assembly lines.
An Indigenisation Performance Index (IPI) can incentivise stakeholders across services and industry, which will introduce transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes.
India must scale up and modernise testing and certification facilities, especially for UAVs, AI-driven platforms, electronic warfare, and high-end communication systems. India should adopt a public-private partnership model to create dual-use testing facilities in Defence Corridors. Fast-track certification mechanisms, guided by realistic military requirements, should replace the one-size-fits-all approach
In conclusion, India’s push for defence indigenisation and modernisation is vital for achieving strategic autonomy, economic growth, and global defence leadership. Addressing underlying issues through enhanced R&D, streamlined acquisition, and deeper industry collaboration will be key to sustaining the momentum. A robust, self-reliant defence ecosystem will not only strengthen national security but also position India as a global hub for military innovation and exports. Operation Sindoor has proved beyond doubt that the Indian defence industry has come of age and is capable of delivering state-of-the-art defence equipment with cutting-edge technology at a much lower cost. The sudden surge of demand for critical missiles used in the operation speaks volumes of its global acceptability and reach, besides slowly but steadily becoming a strong competitor to the existing defence exporting countries. This moment of success needs to be further leveraged to build a robust domestic defence industry.
In the political and diplomatic domain, the pursuit of this operation has showcased India’s decisive governance in the face of grave provocation. The nation’s steadfastness, clarity of purpose and object-based offensive with a minimum collateral damage have elevated the country’s stature on the global stage, thereby strengthening not only our national standing but also sending a resounding message to all our detractors that the cost of provocation will be unbearable. It is also a testimony to all the brave men and women in uniform, to the policymakers who stood firm, and to a nation that stood united. It is a chapter of glory in our pursuit of peace through strength. History will resonate with the singular adage that India will neither provoke nor tolerate.
–The writer is a former GOC of the Indian Army and presently serves as a Strategic Consultant and Principal Advisor. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
