Less than 50 weapons brought Pakistan to ‘talking table’: Vice Chief of Air Staff

Indian Air Force Vice Chief Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tewari on Friday said less than 50 weapons had brought the adversary to the ‘talking table’ during Operation Sindoor.

He was mentioning the role of air power in hitting 11 air bases of Pakistan on May 10.

Within hours of that strike, Pakistan called up the US seeking an intervention and later called up India seeking a cessation of hostilities that had lasted for four days (May 7-10).

The IAF Vice Chief said, “We have discussed the cost benefits of air power. There is no greater example than what we did in Operation Sindoor. Less than 50 weapons can bring the adversary to the talking table, that is an example that needs to be studied by scholars.”

Though Air Marshal Tewari did not mention the weapons used in the strikes by IAF jets and IAF ground bases, long-distance missiles like the Brahmos were among those used on May 10.

The IAF official was speaking at the culmination of a ‘warfare and aero strategy programme’ organised by an IAF-backed think-tank Centre for Air Power Studies. The Vice Chief was among those who posed questions to IAF officers studying in the warfare strategy programme.

Air Marshal Tewari also spoke about air power in modern era saying the dominance of fighter jets vis-a vis armed unmanned aerial vehicles would remain for some time.

“A manned fighter jet can send the right signal for coercive diplomacy and has a huge advantage over unmanned, and that would remain for some time,” Air Marshal Tewari said.   

He was categorical that UAV and armed drones have their importance and relevance in modern warfare and the kind of damage they can cause.

The Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshall AP Singh and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi were also among the audience.