India’s Operation Sindoor: How Unprecedented Airstrikes Using ‘Dummy’ Aircraft, Brahmos Missiles Crippled 11 Pakistan’s Air Bases

New Delhi: On the intervening night of May 9 and 10, India used 15 Brahmos super-sonic cruise missiles, in what is considered as one of the most daring operation by the Indian Air Force (IAF), after Pakistan’s failed attempt to target Indian civilian and military installations following Operation Sindoor by the Indian Armed Forces, reported ANI citing sources. For the unversed, Operation Sindoor was launched by India on the intervening night of May 6 and 7 to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.

Under this operation, the Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan, in retaliation, fired drones and missiles, in a failed attempt to target Indian civilian and military installations.

Responding to Pakistan’s offensive, on the intervening night of May 9 and 10, the IAF attacked 11 out of 12 Pakistan Air Force’s bases, including Nur Khan and Sukkur, in what is known as Operation Sindoor round 2. It has been described as one of the most daring and tactically counter-offensive move in South Asian history.

According to ANI, which gathered information from multiple sources involved in the operation, the intervening night of May 9 and 10 marked the launch of a significant aerial offensive by the IAF, supported by other branches of the Indian military. This delivered a severe blow to their Chinese-supported air defence network.

The Indian offensive featured the use of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Scalp missiles mounted on Rafale jets, striking multiple PAF air bases. In total, around 15 BrahMos missiles were launched, focusing on neutralising the PAF’s operational capabilities, reported ANI, citing sources.

As per the news agency, the operation began with Indian forces deploying decoy unmanned target aircraft camouflaged as fighter jets on enemy radars. This tactic forced Pakistani air defences to get activated, exposing their positions. Once enemy defences were revealed, Indian forces deployed loitering munitions, including Israeli-made Harop drones, to disable Pakistan’s air defence radars and command centres, reported ANI.

Despite Pakistani attempts to reposition HQ-9 air defence missile systems, Indian forces successfully detected and targeted them. The IAF then launched a series of long-range missile strikes using BrahMos, Scalp, Rampage, and Crystal Maze missiles. These strikes were coordinated by the Western and Southwestern Air Commands.

Pakistani retaliatory strikes, involving ballistic missiles, air-launched cruise missiles, and combat drones, were largely neutralised by India’s S-400, MRSAM, and Akash air defence systems, known as ‘Sudarshan Chakra’.. The intensity of India’s strikes reportedly forced Pakistan to reposition its aircraft to rear bases, with significant losses, including long-endurance UAVs and an airborne early warning and control aircraft in the Sindh region.

Notably, this was reportedly the first instance of the BrahMos missile being used in an active conflict, effectively demonstrating its combat capabilities. According to ANI, the Indian strikes on Pakistani airbases were so overwhelming that Islamabad dropped plans for a counter-response and urgently sought talks with India’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) and requested a ceasefire on the evening of May 10.