Sindoor. This is the code name given by the Indian Air Force to an operation aimed at bombing nine sites in Pakistan this Wednesday, May 7. To justify this mission, New Delhi maintains that these installations were used to “ Plan and order terrorist attacks against India ». According to the Pakistani army, the strikes have caused the death of at least 26 civilians and was 46 wounded. They respond to the attack that caused 26 dead in the Pahalgam region on April 22 – and for which India suspects the involvement of Pakistani elements.
Following this operation, the Pakistani Minister of Defense, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, said that five Indian planes had been slaughtered, including a Mig-29, one Soukhoï su-30 and three Rafale.
For the time being, this version is not checked. On the other hand, a relative of Dassault Aviation confirms to the Tangwall Campagin, that a Rafale was destroyed. But then, how could a device considered one of the most efficient in the world could be touched? “” It all depends on how the operation was planned », Explains the Tangwall Campagin Dominique Trinquant, former chief of the French military mission to the UN. “” If you send an unprotected plane – like electronic war systems to detect enemy radars or neutralize air defense – then it becomes vulnerable “, He said, while the burst was killed on the Indian side, not above Pakistan.
“” Mission planning was clearly failing », Xavier Tytelman tranche consultant in aeronautics and defense, with the Tangwall Campagin. “” When we carry out a strike type operation, two strategies are available to us: either we fly at very low altitude to escape the radars and hit the target by surprise, or we attack from afar, at high altitude, which allows increased scope. »»
A weakness of the French device?
However, India has announced that it would not cross Pakistani airspace and that it would not destroy any military target. Result : ” Everything has been launched from its own territory, at great distance and at altitude. By doing so, she placed herself within reach of the Pakistani missiles without having taken care to neutralize their interception capacities “, Continues the specialist
The Rafale has already proven itself
The use of the plane built by Dassault is explained by its ability to strike in depth with the Scalp missiles, whose range reaches 300 kilometers. “” These strikes have been the most important in the depth carried out by the Indian army since the 1970s. The operating profit is satisfactory in this level », Underlines Xavier Tytelman.
If the information was confirmed, it would be the first time that a burst has been shot in operation. Should we see a weakness of the French apparatus? “” He is not in question Assures Dominique Trinquant. “” With the French armies, the plane has already conducted dozens of similar missions, especially in the Sahel or Levant “, He recalls.
