Weapons Used In Operation Sindoor

India’s landmark military initiative, Operation Sindoor, not only showcased exceptional coordination among its armed forces but also the deployment of cutting-edge precision weaponry. This joint operation, launched in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, aimed at dismantling the infrastructure of terrorist organizations deeply entrenched across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Arsenal of Modern Warfare: Weapons Used in Operation Sindoor

In a show of military sophistication, India employed a combination of air-launched cruise missiles, smart bombs, and unmanned aerial systems, allowing for deep penetration and pinpoint targeting without escalating into direct conflict with the Pakistani military.

SCALP (Storm Shadow) Cruise Missile

At the heart of the air-strike capability was the SCALP missile, also known internationally as Storm Shadow. This is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile with a range exceeding 250 kilometres, specifically designed for deep-strike missions. The SCALP was used to penetrate hardened and fortified terrorist infrastructures, ensuring minimal risk to civilian areas and collateral damage.

The missile’s terrain-following capabilities and advanced guidance systems made it particularly effective in striking camps located in difficult terrains, such as the hills of PoK and the rural expanses of Punjab province in Pakistan.

HAMMER Precision Bomb

Another critical asset in the operation was the HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) smart bomb. It was deployed to obliterate reinforced structures, including multi-storey buildings, bunkers, and fortified training centres operated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The HAMMER is a precision-guided, standoff weapon capable of hitting targets from a range of 50–70 kilometres, depending on the altitude of release. Its modular design and laser/GPS guidance ensured surgical accuracy, making it ideal for urban and semi-urban targets.

Loitering Munitions (“Kamikaze Drones”)

In addition to traditional weapons, India also deployed loitering munitions, often referred to as “kamikaze drones”. These drones combined real-time surveillance, target acquisition, and terminal strike capabilities. Hovering over the battlefield, they could either operate autonomously or under manual control, selecting and destroying targets based on dynamic battlefield inputs.

These systems proved invaluable in monitoring camp activity, confirming the presence of high-value targets, and providing last-minute strike capability—a significant advancement in asymmetric warfare.

Strategic Targeting: Terror Facilities Neutralized

Selection Based on Verified Intelligence

The Indian Defence Ministry emphasized that no Pakistani military bases were targeted. Instead, each strike location was carefully selected based on verified intelligence, confirming their use by banned terrorist organisations for training, logistics, indoctrination, and operational planning.

A total of nine terror facilities were destroyed—four in Pakistan’s mainland, and five in PoK.

Detailed Profile of Key Targets Hit

Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur (JeM)

Regarded as the ideological headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed, this facility in Bahawalpur had long served as a training hub for the group’s senior leadership. It played a central role in strategic planning and radicalisation.

Markaz Taiba, Muridke (LeT)

One of the most prominent targets of the operation, Markaz Taiba is a sprawling 200-acre compound and the main headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Heavily fortified and known for its indoctrination programmes, this facility was central to LeT’s terror export operations. It served not only as a training ground but also as a logistics and recruitment centre.

Markaz Abbas, Kotli (JeM)

Located in PoK, this installation was used as a suicide bomber training facility and a weapons distribution centre for newly recruited militants. It was a critical node in JeM’s operational network.

Syedna Bilal and Shawai Nalla Camps, Muzaffarabad (JeM & LeT)

These twin camps, located near Muzaffarabad, served as infiltration points into Jammu & Kashmir. They were used to house sleeper cells and provided intensive training in mountain warfare and survival tactics. The joint use by JeM and LeT reflects the operational overlap and cooperation between terror outfits in PoK.

Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala (LeT)

Disguised as a religious seminary, this was a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba’s logistical operations in the region. Intelligence reports indicated its role in arms storage, transportation coordination, and field intelligence gathering.

Sarjal, Tehra Kalan (JeM)

This remote camp was used as a pre-infiltration staging area, where recruits received final instructions and equipment before crossing into India. Its rural location allowed it to operate under the radar of traditional surveillance.

Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot (HM)

A relatively low-profile yet active training base for Hizbul Mujahideen, this facility played a key role in maintaining the group’s residual presence despite its decline in Kashmir. It was used primarily for close-quarter combat and explosives training.