Following the decisive operational success of Destruction of Enemy Air Defences (DEAD) missions during the conflict in May 2025, known as Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is fast-tracking plans to institutionalise this capability.
The force is actively pursuing the development of indigenous loitering munitions specifically engineered to dismantle hostile air defence networks, aiming to replicate and expand upon the tactical advantages gained during the recent operations.
Lessons from Operation Sindoor
According to defence sources, the IAF’s assessment of the May conflict has reinforced a critical lesson: suppressing and physically destroying enemy air defence systems is a non-negotiable prerequisite for achieving air superiority over modern, sensor-dense battlefields.During Operation Sindoor, the IAF employed Israeli-manufactured HAROP loitering munitions to neutralise Pakistani air defence assets effectively. This operation marked the first known combat deployment of such systems by the IAF against a fully operational, integrated air defence network.
The HAROP systems were instrumental in locating, tracking, and destroying radar and interceptor missile components of Chinese origin—likely variants of the HQ-16 (LY-80) and HQ-9 systems operated by Pakistan—which form the backbone of their aerial denial strategy.
The Strategic Value of Loitering Munitions
The operational analysis highlights that loitering munitions offer unique advantages over conventional standoff missiles in DEAD roles.Unlike cruise missiles that typically rely on pre-targeted coordinates, loitering munitions can remain airborne for extended periods—up to nine hours in the case of the HAROP—autonomously hunting for radar emitters.
This "loiter and hunt" capability makes them ideal for neutralising mobile air defence umbrellas that rely on "shoot and scoot" tactics and emission control to survive.
By autonomously detecting radar emissions and striking once hostile systems become active, these munitions force adversaries into a dilemma: keep radars silent and lose situational awareness, or activate them and risk immediate destruction.
Push for Indigenisation and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'
Buoyed by this success, the IAF is now engaging with the Indian defence industry to develop home-grown equivalents tailored for DEAD missions.While the imported HAROP systems proved their worth, reliance on foreign suppliers for high-intensity conflict roles carries inherent strategic risks, including supply chain disruptions during crises.
The push aligns with India’s broader Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The IAF is seeking systems capable of detecting and homing in on surveillance and fire-control radars, as well as striking associated command-and-control nodes.
Indigenous development would allow for the customisation of payloads, sensors, and autonomy levels to suit the specific electronic warfare environment of the region.
Industry Engagement and Future Doctrine
Preliminary discussions are already underway with domestic manufacturers.Companies such as Tata Advanced Systems (which has developed the ALS-50), Solar Industries (creators of the Nagastra series), and NewSpace Research & Technologies are seen as potential frontrunners in this space.
The IAF’s requirement is for a scalable, low-cost option that can be produced in large numbers to saturate enemy defences—a capability that complements expensive, high-end manned aircraft.
This initiative represents a significant doctrinal shift. Modern air defences are increasingly layered and networked, making them difficult to defeat with traditional weapons alone.
By integrating swarms of indigenous loitering munitions into its intelligence, surveillance, and targeting architecture, the IAF aims to ensure that the tactical dominance displayed in May translates into a sustained, long-term operational advantage for India.
