India’s “Operation Sindhoora” Exposes Pakistan’s Missile Defense Weakness
In retaliation for the Pulwama-style terror attack, India launched a powerful military operation named “Operation Sindhoora” targeting terror bases across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian military successfully destroyed 21 terrorist training camps spread across 9 different locations, using 24 missiles within just 25 minutes, showcasing precision and efficiency.
What shocked many was Pakistan’s inability to intercept India’s incoming missiles mid-air, despite having invested in modern air defense systems. This has raised serious concerns within Pakistani defense circles and ignited debates about the effectiveness of their security infrastructure.
Pakistan relies heavily on China for defense equipment. One of their key systems is the HQ-9, a surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC). Pakistan integrated the HQ-9 into its military in 2021. The HQ-9 can target threats from 125 to 300 kilometers away and can strike aerial objects up to 50 kilometers in altitude. The upgraded HQ-9B variant claims a longer range and simultaneous tracking of up to 100 targets.
Between 2013 and 2015, Pakistan imported 9 HQ-16 units from China, costing approximately $599 million. Pakistan had hoped these systems would match India’s S-400 Triumf air defense systems. However, with the S-400 capable of intercepting targets up to 400 kilometers away, the HQ-9 clearly falls short.
India’s use of Rafale, Sukhoi-30, and BrahMos missiles proved too advanced for Pakistan’s defense grid. The Indian Air Force has acquired 36 Rafale jets through a deal signed with France in 2016. The first batch arrived in 2020. India has now also signed a deal to purchase 26 Rafales specifically for its Navy.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has procured 20 Chinese J-10CE fighter jets equipped with PL-15 missiles, and around 50 JF-17 Block III jets, totaling about 70 aircraft with long-range strike capabilities. The PL-15 missiles can hit targets up to 300 kilometers away at Mach 5 speed. But defense analysts argue that these still lag behind India’s combination of missile power, radar systems, and coordinated air strikes.
To escalate pressure at the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistan is also using Chinese-made SH-15 155mm mounted gun systems for cross-border shelling. Additionally, Pakistan is known to operate a fleet of Chinese and Turkish drones, including models similar to Wing Loong II and CH-4, for surveillance and strike purposes.
Between 2020 and 2024, China remained Pakistan’s largest defense supplier, accounting for 81% of its total arms imports. Other sources include the Netherlands (5.5%) and Turkey (3.8%).
Despite these acquisitions, Pakistan’s military infrastructure appears insufficient to counter India’s advanced air strike capabilities. As Operation Sindhoora demonstrated, India’s superiority in technology, precision, and execution has placed Pakistan in a vulnerable and reactive position, struggling to defend against or match Indian firepower.
