Indian strikes on Pak executed without loss of assets, bypassed China-made systems: Govt

India on Wednesday said Operation Sindoor was executed without loss of assets and signals growing technological self-reliance of the country besides validating national defence indigenisation policies.

In the first formal statement on the operation that destroyed nine terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK, the government said the Indian Air Force bypassed and jammed Pakistan’s China-supplied air defence systems, completing the mission in 23 minutes and demonstrating the country's technological edge.

The statement cited evidence of hostile technologies neutralised by Indian systems, including pieces of PL-15 missiles (of Chinese origin); Turkish-origin UAVs, named 'Yiha' or 'YEEHAW'; long-range rockets; and quadcopters and commercial drones.

Top takeaway from the statement titled "Operation SINDOOR: The Rise of Aatmanirbhar Innovation in National Security" was the government's assertion that India did not lose any asset in the operation.

"All strikes were executed without loss of Indian assets, underscoring the effectiveness of our surveillance, planning and delivery systems. The use of modern indigenous technology, from long-range drones to guided munitions, made these strikes highly effective and politically calibrated," said the government in the first official response to speculation about Indian jets being downed by the Pakistan military.

The statement came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), India's highest security-related body. This was the first CCS meeting since the pause on hostilities and the 10th high-level security review by the PM since the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike that killed 26 persons, including one Nepali.

Attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, NSA Ajit Doval and other top officials, the meeting reviewed national security and preparedness, with the PM lauding the military for achieving the stated goals of Operation Sindoor.

The CCS noted the remarkable coordination Indian air defence systems displayed thwarting Pakistani attempts to target domestic installations.

Later, the official statement said, "India’s air defence systems, combining assets from the Army, Navy, and primarily the Air Force, performed with exceptional synergy. These systems created an impenetrable wall, foiling multiple attempts by Pakistan to retaliate."

Lauding Operation Sindoor for tactical brilliance, the government said it emerged as a calibrated military response to asymmetric warfare and India’s response was deliberate, precise and strategic.

"Without crossing the Line of Control or international boundary, Indian forces struck terrorist infrastructure and eliminated multiple threats. Beyond tactical brilliance what stood out was the seamless integration of indigenous hi-tech systems into national defence. Whether in drone warfare, layered air defence, or electronic warfare, Operation Sindoor marks a milestone in India’s journey towards technological self-reliance in military operations," said the government.

It added that multiple defensive layers from the international boundary inward — featuring counter-unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare assets, and air defence weapons from both the Army and IAF — prevented the Pakistan air force attacks on Indian airfields and logistic installations between May 9-10 night.

After the CCS meeting, Rajnath mentioned India’s defence sector surge saying, "Driven by the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, defence exports have jumped from Rs 686 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 23,622 crore in 2024-25 — a 34-fold rise."

The government note spoke of indigenous defence production in FY 2023-24 reaching a record Rs 1.27 lakh crore. It said, "the aim is to touch Rs 50,000-crore defence exports by 2029 and make India the largest global defence exporter by 2047."

The government also said Operation Sindoor was not just a story of tactical success but a validation of India’s defence indigenisation policies.

"From air defence systems to drones, from counter-UAS capabilities to net-centric warfare platforms, indigenous technology has delivered when it mattered most," the statement said.

Effective planning, surveillance

"All strikes were executed without loss of Indian assets, underscoring the effectiveness of our surveillance, planning, and delivery systems." — Govt

'All our pilots back'

When asked if an Indian Rafale had been hit, Air Marshal AK Bharti, DG Air Operations, said two days ago: "We are in a combat scenario and losses are a part of combat. The question you must ask us is have we achieved our objectives of decimating the terrorists camps and the answer is a thumping yes...all our pilots are back home."