You dont have javascript enabled! Please enable it! Operation Sindoor: India’s Precision Strike on Pakistan’s HDBTs - Indian Defence Research Wing
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SOURCE: AFI

In a remarkable display of precision and strategic prowess, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully targeted and destroyed two Hardened and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBTs) during Operation Sindoor. These targets, identified as critical Command and Control (C2) centres for air defence, were located at Chaklala (now Nur Khan Airbase) in Islamabad and Murid Airbase. According to Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General of Military Operations (Air), these facilities were pivotal to Pakistan’s air defence network. However, the author posits that these were likely more advanced Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) centres, given their strategic significance and observed activities.

Pakistan is known to maintain at least 22 HDBTs, primarily situated around its airbases, with a few in strategic locations like Islamabad and Karachi. These underground facilities are designed to withstand conventional attacks, making their destruction a complex and intelligence-intensive operation. The IAF’s success in targeting these HDBTs underscores the sophistication of its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and the precision of its weaponry.

Attacking HDBTs requires meticulous planning and a deep understanding of the target’s construction, soil composition, and structural layers. Factors such as the facility’s depth, material strength, and design dictate the choice of weaponry—ranging from low-yield nuclear and thermobaric weapons to conventional penetrating bombs or directed energy systems. Each weapon type has distinct advantages and trade-offs. For instance, nuclear options risk escalation, while conventional bombs demand pinpoint accuracy to penetrate reinforced structures. Given India’s no-first-use (NFU) nuclear policy, the IAF likely employed conventional penetrating bombs, tailored to the specific construction details of the targets.

Accurate intelligence is paramount for such operations. The Geologic Assessment Methodology for Underground Targets (GAMUT) likely played a critical role in characterizing the HDBTs’ locations and structural properties. A detailed blueprint of the facility, corroborated by multiple ISR sources, is ideal for ensuring mission success. High-resolution satellite imagery, human intelligence, and signals intelligence are essential to map the facility’s layout, including critical entry points like ventilation shafts.

The C2 (or C4I) centre at Chaklala Airbase, located at coordinates 33.612222°N, 73.096650°E within Islamabad, was a high-value target. Constructed in the 1990s over 750 square meters, the facility was reportedly built by General Electric (GE) Aviation, a U.S. company specializing in underground construction. The facility’s blueprints and construction technology were allegedly shared with Pakistan, possibly in exchange for halting cold nuclear tests at Kirana Hills, as Pakistan had already achieved nuclear capability by the late 1980s, according to A.Q. Khan’s 1987 interview with Kuldeep Nayyar.

The Chaklala facility was a showcase of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) technological advancements, frequently toured by VIPs, including U.S. and Chinese generals, who praised its integration with other systems. Satellite imagery indicates expansions in 2005 and 2015, suggesting its role extended beyond C2 to include research and data collection for radar and system integration. Aircraft collecting intelligence were observed downloading data at this centre, highlighting its role in modernizing Pakistan’s air defence network.

The IAF’s attack on the Chaklala HDBT was a feat of unparalleled precision. The strike targeted an HVAC shaft, measuring just 45 cm in diameter—a target so small that it corresponds to a single pixel in high-resolution satellite imagery (30 cm per pixel). This required extraordinary accuracy, likely entrusted to the IAF’s most skilled pilots and guided by preloaded high-resolution imagery and precise target data. The missile’s navigation system would have been programmed with exact coordinates and visual references to hit the shaft, leading directly to the facility’s main chamber.

Post-strike imagery, released during a DGMO press conference, revealed significant damage. The explosion, likely caused by a penetrating bomb, was powerful enough to pulverize the facility’s interior, killing all occupants instantly. The multilayered concrete rebar roof was shattered and displaced upward, indicating the immense force of the blast. Unlike other sites, the PAF delayed debris removal, possibly to conceal the extent of the damage. After four days, in consultation with the families of the deceased, the PAF decided to bury the remains in situ, as no identifiable bodies could be recovered. Subsequent satellite imagery showed the site being levelled and paved over, effectively erasing the facility.

While less detailed information is available about the Murid Airbase HDBT, it was similarly a critical C2 or C4I node. The IAF’s successful strike on this facility further demonstrated its capability to neutralize deeply buried targets with precision. The Pakistan Strategic Plans Division’s Special Works Department (SWD), responsible for constructing most of Pakistan’s 22 HDBTs, likely built the Murid facility, indicating a shift from foreign to indigenous construction expertise following the Chaklala project.

The destruction of these HDBTs marks a significant milestone in military history, showcasing the IAF’s ability to execute one of the most precise strikes ever recorded. The attack on a 45 cm HVAC shaft is unprecedented, highlighting advancements in ISR, weapon guidance, and pilot training. The obliteration of these facilities disrupted Pakistan’s air defence network, potentially weakening its ability to coordinate responses to aerial threats.

The operation also underscores the importance of robust ISR and geologic assessment in modern warfare. By leveraging GAMUT and high-resolution imagery, the IAF overcame the challenges posed by HDBTs’ fortified designs. The choice of conventional weapons aligned with India’s NFU policy, avoiding escalation while achieving strategic objectives.

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