SOURCE: AFI
In its latest issue, Air Forces Monthly, a leading military aviation magazine published by Key Publishing Ltd in Stamford, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, has reported a significant operation by the Indian Air Force (IAF) targeting Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases during the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
The magazine details how IAF Rafale jets fired 10 SCALP-EG cruise missiles as part of Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory campaign launched in response to a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 civilians. The operation, executed between May 7 and 10, 2025, saw a devastating combination of SCALP-EG and BrahMos-A missiles working in tandem to strike some of the PAF’s most secure air bases, dealing a severe blow to Pakistan’s air defense capabilities.
According to the Air Forces Monthly report, corroborated by sources from the Indian Defence Research Wing (idrw.org), the IAF’s Rafale jets, operating from bases such as Ambala and Hasimara, launched 10 SCALP-EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée, also known as Storm Shadow) cruise missiles targeting critical PAF infrastructure, including command centers, hardened aircraft shelters, and runways. Of the 10 SCALP-EG missiles fired, nine scored direct hits, showcasing their stealth capabilities and pinpoint accuracy. One missile reportedly malfunctioned due to an engine failure, a rare occurrence for the MBDA-developed missile known for its reliability. In contrast, the BrahMos-A supersonic cruise missiles, launched by modified Su-30MKI fighters, faced no such issues, delivering devastating strikes with their Mach 2.8–3.0 speed and extended range of 450–800 km.
The synergy between the SCALP-EG and BrahMos-A was a tactical masterstroke, as noted by Air Forces Monthly. The SCALP-EG’s low-observable design allowed it to bypass Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied HQ-9 and HQ-16 air defense systems, which rely on high-frequency radars ineffective against stealthy targets. Its inertial navigation system (INS), combined with GPS and terrain-referencing navigation (TERCOM), ensured precise targeting of high-value assets, such as a command post and two hangars housing F-16 fighters at Sargodha airbase. Meanwhile, the BrahMos-A, a joint India-Russia venture, leveraged its supersonic speed and “S” maneuver capability to evade interception, striking targets like runways and fuel depots at bases such as Kamra, Murid, and Bholari with devastating effect. Satellite imagery from Indian firm KawaSpace and Maxar Technologies confirmed significant damage, including a direct hit on a hangar at Bholari airbase, which housed a Saab 2000 Erieye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and at least three F-16A/B Block-15 fighters.
The Air Forces Monthly report highlights the strategic impact of the strikes, which crippled key PAF bases, including Nur Khan (Rawalpindi), Rafiqui (Shorkot), Murid (Chakwal), Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian (Kasur), Jacobabad, Sargodha, and Skardu, as well as radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot. The operation, part of a broader IAF offensive, targeted 11 of 13 major PAF airbases, with the BrahMos-A’s combat debut proving its reputation as a near-uninterceptable missile due to its low-altitude flight profile and high speed. The magazine notes that the PAF’s attempts to intercept the BrahMos-A using JF-17 Thunder jets armed with PL-12 missiles were futile, underscoring the technological gap between the two air forces.
The IAF’s integrated command and control network, supported by systems like the Surya VHF radar and Akashteer, provided real-time intelligence, enabling precise targeting. The operation also saw the use of other precision-guided munitions, such as HAMMER and Israeli-made Harop loitering munitions, further amplifying the IAF’s destructive reach. According to idrw.org, the strikes resulted in the destruction of high-value assets, including a C-130 Hercules at Nur Khan, Chinese-origin Wing Loong drones, and Turkish Bayraktar TB2 UAVs at Murid, severely degrading Pakistan’s air operational capabilities.
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