Operation Sindoor: Escalation and Hostilities: UPSC Current Affairs Story Arc

Overview

Operation Sindoor (2025) marks a pivotal escalation in India-Pakistan hostilities, evolving from a localized terror attack in Pahalgam into a high-tech tactical conflict. The arc showcases India's maturing defense ecosystem, involving the successful deployment of indigenous systems like Akashteer and the MRSAM from INS Surat. It highlights a significant geopolitical shift where India, for the first time, officially named China as a missile supplier to Pakistan, while simultaneously navigating a complex web of alliances involving Turkey's support for Pakistan and India's growing role as a primary arms supplier to Armenia. This conflict demonstrates the transition toward 'Algorithmic Warfare,' where AI decoys and automated control systems determine the outcome of aerial engagements.

How This Story Evolved

Terror attack (Item 9) → Triggers conflict/Drone attacks (Item 21) → Defensive responses (Item 8, Item 7) → Diplomatic accusation (Item 11)

1. 2025-04-25: India's Military Posturing Intensifies Amidst Regional Tensions
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   UPSC Angle: Military posturing intensifies between India and Pakistan.

   Key Facts:

   • Indian Air Force (IAF) launched Exercise Aakraman
   • Frontline Rafale fighter jets leading the exercise
   • Indian Navy conducted a medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) launch
   • INS Surat: indigenously built destroyer
   • Missile intercepted a high-speed, sea-skimming target at approximately 70 km
   • April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam
2. 2025-05-10: India-Pakistan drone attack; Turkish connection
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   UPSC Angle: India repels Pakistani drone attack; Turkish drones used.

   Key Facts:

   • Over 300 drones were used in the Pakistani attack.
   • Drones identified as Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models.
   • A Turkish Ada-class anti-submarine corvette docked at Karachi port on May 2.
   • India supports Greece-backed Cyprus and has become Armenia's largest arms supplier in 2024.
3. 2025-05-13: India names China as missile supplier to Pakistan
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   UPSC Angle: India names China as missile supplier to Pakistan.

   Key Facts:

   • China
   • Pakistan
   • Missiles
   • Operation Sindoor
4. 2025-05-19: Akashteer Deployed in Defence
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   UPSC Angle: Akashteer deployed for air defence control and reporting.

   Key Facts:

   • Akashteer is a fully indigenous, automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System.
   • India is targeting ₹3 lakh crore in defence production by 2029.
   • 65% of defence equipment is now manufactured domestically.
5. 2025-08-25: India's Use of AI-Enabled Decoys in Operation Sindoor
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   UPSC Angle: India's use of AI-enabled decoys in Operation Sindoor.

   Key Facts:

   • Operation Sindoor involved the use of X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD) system
   • The decoy system was developed by Israel
   • Decoys trailed behind Rafale fighter jets

Genesis

Trigger

A terror attack in Pahalgam on April 25, 2025, served as the immediate catalyst, prompting the Indian Air Force to launch 'Exercise Aakraman' and transition into active military posturing.

Why Now

The escalation coincided with India's aggressive push toward a ₹3 lakh crore defense production target by 2029 and its strategic pivot as a major arms exporter (notably to Armenia), which challenged the regional status quo.

Historical Context

The arc reflects a modernized version of the 1971 and 1999 escalations, but replaced conventional artillery with drone swarms and integrated air defense networks.

Key Turning Points

1. [2025-05-10] Large-scale Pakistani swarm attack using 300+ Turkish Asisguard Songar drones.

   It marked the largest use of UAVs in the subcontinent, testing India's automated defense readiness.

   Before: Drone threats were considered isolated incidents. After: Drone swarms became a primary tactical concern requiring Akashteer's automation.

2. [2025-05-13] India officially names China as Pakistan's missile supplier.

   A major diplomatic shift from 'strategic ambiguity' to direct confrontation with China's role in regional proxy warfare.

   Before: India focused on non-state actors. After: India directly challenged the China-Pakistan military-industrial nexus.

Key Actors and Institutions

Key Institutions

• Indian Air Force (IAF)
• Indian Navy
• Pakistan Air Force (PAF)
• Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI/Israeli partners for X-Guard)

Key Concepts

Akashteer

A fully indigenous, automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System designed to integrate various sensors and weapon systems into a unified network for rapid interception.

Current Fact: Successfully deployed in May 2025 to intercept missile and drone attacks during Operation Sindoor.

Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD)

An AI-enabled electronic warfare tool that trails behind an aircraft, mimicking its radar cross-section and spectral signature to divert incoming missiles.

Current Fact: The Israeli-made X-Guard system was used by IAF Rafales on August 25, 2025, to trick Pakistani missiles.

MRSAM (Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile)

A high-response, quick-reaction missile system capable of neutralizing aerial threats including jets, missiles, and drones.

Current Fact: Launched from INS Surat, it intercepted a target at approximately 70 km during the April 2025 escalation.

What Happens Next

Current Status

As of August 25, 2025, the situation has moved into a high-tech 'shadow war' phase, with India successfully utilizing Israeli X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoys (FOTD) to neutralize Pakistan Air Force missile threats.

Likely Next

Expect a formal diplomatic protest at the UN regarding China's missile supplies and a surge in orders for indigenous Akashteer units to cover the entire LoC/International Border.

Wildcards

A direct Turkish military intervention in the maritime domain (given the Ada-class corvette presence) or a Chinese escalation in the Northern sector to divert Indian resources.

Why UPSC Cares

Syllabus Topics

• India and its Neighborhood- Relations
• Indigenization of technology and developing new technology
• Security challenges and their management in border areas

Essay Angles

• The role of AI and automation in modern warfare: Ethics and Effectiveness
• Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence: From importer to strategic exporter

Prelims Likely: Yes

Mains Likely: Yes

Trend Signal: rising

Exam Intelligence

Previous Year Question Connections

• Tested features of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) such as vertical landing and automated hovering. — The 300-drone swarm attack using Songar models directly relates to the operational capabilities of UAVs in modern conflict.
• Asked about the procurement of S-400 air defence system. — Akashteer and MRSAM represent the indigenous evolution of the air defense concepts previously tested via S-400 questions.

Prelims Angles

• INS Surat is an indigenous destroyer (Project 15B context).
• MRSAM's effective range in the Operation Sindoor context was 70 km.
• X-Guard FOTD is a product of Israeli defense collaboration.
• India's current defense production target is ₹3 lakh crore by 2029.

Mains Preparation

Sample Question: Discuss how the integration of AI-enabled systems and indigenous automated control networks has redefined India's response to asymmetric threats along its western border. Illustrate with recent examples of drone and missile warfare.

Answer Structure: Intro: Context of Operation Sindoor → Body 1: The shift to automated defense (Akashteer) and AI decoys (X-Guard) → Body 2: Diplomatic implications of naming suppliers (China/Turkey) → Critical Analysis: Success of Atmanirbhar Bharat (65% domestic manufacturing) → Way Forward: Need for unified drone doctrine.

Essay Topic: The Silicon Sword: How Technology is Replacing Traditional Diplomacy in 21st Century Geopolitics.

Textbook Connections

Key Takeaway

Operation Sindoor signifies the birth of India's automated defense era, where indigenous 'Akashteer' and 'MRSAM' systems, coupled with AI-driven electronic warfare, have effectively neutralized sophisticated China-Pakistan-Turkey tech-nexus threats.

All Events in This Story (5 items)

1. 2025-04-25 [Defense & Security] — India's Military Posturing Intensifies Amidst Regional Tensions
   Following a terror attack in Pahalgam, military posturing and preparedness have escalated between India and Pakistan. The Indian Air Force launched Exercise Aakraman, while the Indian Navy conducted a successful MRSAM launch from INS Surat, intercepting a high-speed target at 70 km.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Military posturing intensifies between India and Pakistan.

   Key Facts:

   • Indian Air Force (IAF) launched Exercise Aakraman
   • Frontline Rafale fighter jets leading the exercise
   • Indian Navy conducted a medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) launch
   • INS Surat: indigenously built destroyer
   • Missile intercepted a high-speed, sea-skimming target at approximately 70 km
   • April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam
2. 2025-05-10 [Defense & Security] — India-Pakistan drone attack; Turkish connection
   India recently repelled a large-scale Pakistani drone attack along its western border, with investigations suggesting the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. Over 300 drones were used in the attack. Unlike Gulf countries, Turkey openly condemned India's Operation Sindoor.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: India repels Pakistani drone attack; Turkish drones used.

   Key Facts:

   • Over 300 drones were used in the Pakistani attack.
   • Drones identified as Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models.
   • A Turkish Ada-class anti-submarine corvette docked at Karachi port on May 2.
   • India supports Greece-backed Cyprus and has become Armenia's largest arms supplier in 2024.
3. 2025-05-13 [International Relations] — India names China as missile supplier to Pakistan
   For the first time, India has identified China as the supplier of missiles used by Pakistan, displaying recovered remnants. This occurred amidst heightened tensions and military operations, including Operation Sindoor, following a terror attack.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: India names China as missile supplier to Pakistan.

   Key Facts:

   • China
   • Pakistan
   • Missiles
   • Operation Sindoor
4. 2025-05-19 [Defense & Security] — Akashteer Deployed in Defence
   India successfully deployed Akashteer, its fully indigenous, automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System, to intercept and neutralize missile and drone attacks during Pakistan's Operation SINDOOR in May 2025. India is targeting ₹3 lakh crore in defence production by 2029, with the private sector contributing 21% to total defence production.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Akashteer deployed for air defence control and reporting.

   Key Facts:

   • Akashteer is a fully indigenous, automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System.
   • India is targeting ₹3 lakh crore in defence production by 2029.
   • 65% of defence equipment is now manufactured domestically.
5. 2025-08-25 [Defense & Security] — India's Use of AI-Enabled Decoys in Operation Sindoor
   During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force deployed the X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD) system developed by Israel. These AI-enabled decoys mimicked radar cross-section, velocity, and spectral signature of Rafale fighter jets. Pakistan Air Force missiles locked onto these decoys instead of real aircraft.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: India's use of AI-enabled decoys in Operation Sindoor.

   Key Facts:

   • Operation Sindoor involved the use of X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD) system
   • The decoy system was developed by Israel
   • Decoys trailed behind Rafale fighter jets