India Executes Operation Sindoor: Precision Strikes with SCALP Missiles and HAMMER Bombs

Operation Sindoor Unleashed: India Strikes with SCALP Missiles, HAMMER Bombs

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Pinky Deshmukh

Last Updated: May 07, 2025

Summary: India launched Operation Sindoor, bombing nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK with SCALP missiles and HAMMER bombs, targeting the groups responsible for the Pahalgam incident.

In the early hours of May 7, 2025, India began Operation Sindoor, a major military campaign aimed at terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This action was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror incident, which killed 26 civilians.

The Indian Armed Forces used a tri-service approach, using air, naval, and ground capabilities to carry out pinpoint strikes against nine suspected terror sites.

The Rafale fighter jets used HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) precision-guided bombs and SCALP (Storm Shadow) cruise missiles as their primary weapons for the operation.

Key terrorist outfits, like the Lashkar-e-Taiba command centre in Muridke and the Jaish-e-Mohammed base in Bahawalpur, were successfully targeted and destroyed by the SCALP missiles, often known for their stealth and long-range precision.

To minimize the collateral damage, the HAMMER bombs, versatile and may be guided by GPS, infrared, or laser, were deployed on medium-range targets.

In addition, loitering munitions, sometimes known as "kamikaze drones," were deployed to engage dynamic targets and provide real-time intelligence, enhancing operational accuracy.

To diminish the operational abilities of terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Indian Army confirms that the targeted locations were chosen based on reliable intelligence. This operation significantly weakened the ranks of these terrorist organizations and destroyed vital infrastructure, greatly impairing their ability to operate.

Operation Sindoor, which is one of India’s largest and most technologically advanced cross-border targeted operations since the Balakot strike in 2019, represents a strong and deliberate response to terrorism.