IAF Air Strikes: The Indian Air Force has long been known for careful and exact strikes. Its guiding idea, as said by the air force chief, is “infallible, impervious and precise”. That idea fits the way the IAF has worked for years. Even before modern smart weapons became common, the force had already shown that it could hit the right place with strong accuracy. A famous early example came during the 1971 war for Bangladesh’s freedom. In that conflict, the IAF struck the Kurmitola and Tejgaon air bases in Dhaka with great care. That kept the Pakistani air force’s 14 squadron on the ground. Later, the IAF also hit the governor’s home, and that strike helped push him to resign.
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These old missions became an early sign of what the IAF could do. They showed that the force already had a sharp strike style, even before today’s precision weapons became part of air war. The same basic idea still matters now.
From Kargil to Balakot
The way air attacks work has changed a lot in recent years. Precision is now the main thing. The IAF’s own path in this field started to grow during the Kargil War in 1999. At that time, India used quick fixes and fast planning. Mirage 2000 jets were paired with laser designation and satellite help. Israeli Litening pods were also used to help guide the weapons. This made it possible to strike well even in the hard mountain terrain of Kargil.
Years later, in 2019, India carried out the Balakot air strikes after the Pulwama attack. Those strikes were called Operation Bandar. Twelve Mirage 2000 jets used Israeli SPICE-2000 precision bombs on a camp linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed. This was important because it was the first time since 1971 that Indian warplanes had struck inside Pakistan’s mainland. It also showed that the IAF had moved into a new stage of reach and planning.
Operation Sindoor
The biggest jump came in May 2025 during Operation Sindoor. India struck nine places linked to terror groups, including JeM and LeT sites. The operation used a mix of weapons from different aircraft. Reports said BrahMos cruise missiles were fired from Su-30MKIs, while Rafales used SCALP-EG missiles and HAMMER bombs.
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The strike was described as a networked, multi-platform action with very little unwanted damage. It also marked the combat debut of BrahMos in this role and the first known use of SCALP in a state-on-state fight.
New Precision Weapons
The IAF now has a wide set of stand-off weapons. These include BrahMos, Rampage, Crystal Maze, HAMMER, and SPICE. The article also points to DRDO-made systems like the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), the Gaurav glide bomb, and the TARA guidance kit. SAAW has been reported with a 100 km range, while other systems are meant to help India strike from far away without sending aircraft too deep into danger. The main idea is simple. India wants to hit hard, hit cleanly, and keep its pilots safer while doing it.
