India's Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Narmadeshwar Tiwari, pointed out the strategic success of Operation Sindoor as a case study for how the judicious, limited application of air power can push an opponent towards negotiations.
Addressing a seminar organized jointly by the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) and the College of Air Warfare, Tiwari underlined the importance of the operation in the cost-vs-effect debate.
We talked a great deal about cost-benefit, particularly of air power. There is no better example. I believe what we did in Operation Sindoor," he observed during an interactive session, maintaining that less than 50 weapons were employed to get the opponent to the negotiating table. "I believe that is a case to be learned from, and I am certain it will be learned later on, perhaps it is too soon since the operation." he added.
Air Marshal Tiwari said this while sitting in the audience, emphasizing his contention that the operation will be an example for future study.
Taking the current controversy surrounding manned and unmanned air systems into consideration, he stated, "I believe manned (one) still has a tremendous advantage and will be around for a while," reflecting his faith in conventional air combat assets despite increasing numbers of drones.
The seminar was graced by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, as well as some previous Indian Air Force chiefs and defence attachés from different nations, highlighting the high-level interest in recent Indian military action.
Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, saw precision air attacks wipe out several terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan retaliated with its own operations, but all subsequent Indian counter-measures were under the same operational umbrella.
The short but ferocious conflict ended on the night of May 10, when both sides realized a common ground, so to speak, stopping further escalation between the nuclear powers.
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