How Dummy Aircraft Helped India Trick Pakistan in Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, was India's forceful and calculated military retaliation, targeting nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. But it wasn't just firepower that stunned the Pakistan military - it was strategic deception.

According to an ANI report citing top defence sources, the Indian Air Force (IAF) used unmanned aircraft disguised as fighter jets to confuse and disable Pakistan's Chinese-supplied HQ-9 air defence systems during the May 9-10 offensive.

Before launching its long-range missile strikes, the IAF deployed decoy aircraft camouflaged to mimic real jets. Pakistani radars, mistaking them for actual fighters, scrambled to intercept, triggering the activation of their missile defence systems and unintentionally revealing key locations.

Pakistan's Air Force responded by redeploying HQ-9 launchers and radars across different sites - some newly activated - but these, too, were detected by Indian surveillance.

With the deception complete, the IAF launched a barrage of missiles, including BrahMos, Scalp, Rampage, and Crystal Maze. Around 15 BrahMos missiles were reportedly used, marking their first known use in active combat. The strikes targeted and damaged airstrips, hangars, communication nodes, and reportedly took out an airborne early warning aircraft and drones in Sindh.

Sources told ANI the airbase strikes were so precise and overwhelming that Pakistan dropped any plans for retaliation and urgently sought DGMO-level talks to de-escalate the situation.

Key Highlights of Operation Sindoor:

Planning & Execution: The mission was coordinated by the Western and Southwestern Air Commands.

Defensive Measures: Pakistani counterattacks involving cruise missiles and unmanned combat drones were mostly thwarted by India's S-400, MRSAM, Akash, and other defence systems.

Ceasefire & Tensions

Shortly after the strikes, India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire across land, air, and sea. However, within hours, a series of drone sightings and explosions were reported in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting India to activate its air defence to neutralise potential threats.