Operation Sindoor: India’s Tech-Driven Warfare in the Modern Era

In May 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a calibrated military response to a terror attack in Pahalgam. But beyond missiles and aircraft, what distinguished this operation was how India wove indigenous technologies, artificial intelligence, and secure communications into its execution. Operation Sindoor became more than a tactical strike—it evolved into a statement: in future conflict, dominance will come not just from ordnance, but from information, data, and digital sovereignty.

This image from the May edition of Indian Army's monthly magazine 'Baatcheet' shows the terror sites in Pakistan and PoK that were targeted by the Indian military during 'Operation Sindoor'. (Image: Indian Army/PTI) | News18

The Context: From Pahalgam to Cross-Border Strikes

On April 22, 2025, a brutal terror attack in Pahalgam claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The Indian government held Pakistan responsible for cross-border terrorism. In the aftermath, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistani and Pakistan-administered territories. The operation lasted several days and culminated on May 10, resulting in extensive cross-border engagement. The government affirmed that only non-military infrastructure was struck, emphasizing India’s intent to degrade terror networks, not provoke full-scale war.

What followed was a demonstration of how modern warfare is increasingly being shaped by software, sensors, and command networks. The Indian Army publicly acknowledged employing 23 indigenous apps and AI tools to build a real-time operational, intelligence, and logistics picture—capabilities once seen as domain of peer powers.

Indigenous Applications & Real-Time Intelligence

At the heart of the operation was a constellation of apps developed in India and trained on domestic datasets. As outlined by Lieutenant General Rajiv Kumar Sahni (DG EME), these tools processed inputs from radars, sensors, reconnaissance platforms, and satellites. They fused multi-sensor and multi-source data to generate heat maps, threat assessments, and battlefield reviews covering recent hours of action.

One standout application—jointly built by the Army and the India Meteorological Department—delivered 72-hour weather forecasts deep inside adversary territory. With that, artillery units were able to engage with precision even at longer ranges.

These apps were not blind automata. A human-in-the-loop model was preserved: while AI provided speed and predictions, human commanders retained the final decision authority. This balance promised both efficiency and accountability.

To further enhance responsiveness, a system known as edge AI was deployed via the SANJAY Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS). Rather than sending all data to a distant cloud, processing occurred closer to the front lines—reducing latency and dependence on communication links.

Meanwhile, for communications, the Army set aside popular civilian tools such as WhatsApp, switching to an indigenously developed secure platform named SAMBHAV (Secure Army Mobile Bharat Version). This system, designed for encryption, cyber-resilience, and operational integration, underpinned internal coordination during the operation. 

Beyond Apps: Drones, Air Defense & EW

The apps provided situational clarity, but the physical domain saw significant use of drones, air defence systems, and electronic warfare capabilities.

One critical asset was the Akashteer system, a fully automated AI-enabled Air Defence Control & Reporting System. Developed by Bharat Electronics in collaboration with DRDO and ISRO, Akashteer integrates sensors and allows consolidated command of air defence assets across domains. During Operation Sindoor, it reportedly intercepted drones, micro-UAVs, and loitering munitions.

The Army also fielded Bhargavastra, a micro-missile counter-drone system built by Solar Defence and Aerospace (SDAL). Designed to counter swarms of low-altitude threats, Bhargavastra underscores India’s push toward self-reliant air defence solutions.

Meanwhile, aerial platforms played a pivotal role. India deployed SkyStriker loitering munitions—sometimes described as suicide drones—to strike high-value terror targets. These drones, manufactured in Bengaluru, represented a fusion of precision and endurance.

Such systems operated within an integrated electronic warfare and sensor architecture, ensuring that enemy signals, radar emissions, and drone communications could be intercepted, jammed, or exploited.

Command Integration, Strategic Messaging & Cohesion

Operation Sindoor also showcased how doctrine, command structure, and political messaging had evolved to support high-tempo operations.

Indian leadership reiterated that the operation’s objectives were achieved with tactical restraint. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh noted that Pakistan’s defences were exposed, while the operation adhered to rules of engagement aimed at non-escalation.

Chief of Air Staff A. P. Singh described the operation as a “shining example” of clear direction, jointmanship, and coordinated use of indigenous capabilities across the Army, Air Force, and logistics support arms.

The success of the operation has also been woven into India’s larger narrative of Atmanirbharta, or self-reliance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized how Operation Sindoor demonstrated that Indian innovations in defence are no longer peripheral but central to national security.

Challenges & The Path Ahead

Though Operation Sindoor is being heralded as a success, the campaign underscores both advances and hard questions.

The notion of “made-in-India” systems still faces supply chain vulnerabilities: many platforms rely on imported components, semiconductors, or specialized materials. Achieving full-stack sovereignty across software, hardware, and sensors is a continuing challenge.

Interoperability remains a hurdle. Seamless communication among the three services, intelligence agencies, and civilian command structures is essential for future operations of even greater complexity.

As AI tools grow more central, so too does ethical, legal, and doctrinal governance. Ensuring transparency, control, auditability, and accountability in AI-assisted lethal decisions will remain a key imperative.

Strategic signalling and escalation management also demand caution. While precision and restraint mitigate risk, any cross-border operation carries implications for deterrence stability and adversary responses.

Looking forward, the Indian defence ecosystem is placing renewed emphasis on military-grade AI & generative models, edge computing, counter-swarm and directed-energy systems, and enhanced joint doctrines for hybrid warfare.

The MGMM Outlook

Operation Sindoor marked a significant shift in India’s approach to modern warfare, demonstrating that the battlefield of the future extends far beyond missiles and artillery. In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, India’s military employed a sophisticated integration of indigenous applications, artificial intelligence, and secure communications to orchestrate a precise and measured strike. The operation relied on 23 homegrown apps, edge AI, and human-in-the-loop decision-making to provide real-time intelligence, battlefield mapping, and logistics coordination, ensuring that every move was informed, deliberate, and accurate. By combining digital capabilities with physical assets such as drones, automated air defence systems, and loitering munitions, India showcased its ability to achieve strategic objectives while maintaining restraint and adhering to rules of engagement.

From a broader perspective, Operation Sindoor underscores the growing importance of self-reliance and technological sovereignty in national security. The deployment of platforms like SAMBHAV for secure communications, Akashteer for integrated air defence, and Bhargavastra for counter-drone measures reflects India’s commitment to strengthening its defence ecosystem with domestic innovation. While challenges such as supply chain dependencies, interoperability, and ethical AI governance remain, the operation demonstrates that India is steadily moving toward a future where digital intelligence, indigenous technology, and strategic coordination define operational superiority. Operation Sindoor stands as a testament to India’s evolving defence capabilities, showing that modern warfare will be won not just with weapons, but with information, innovation, and the ability to act decisively on one’s own terms.

(Sources: Business Standard, News18, Times of India)