Operation Sindoor--India.Pakistan--Missile, Air Defense Hierarchy

 HEADQUARTERS

7th Comm. Bn. (-) Rein.
FPO PacFlt Support
FMF SF 9002x
May 2025

Fm.     Charlie.Two SU Alpha.

To.      CMG, FMF

Subj.  Operation Sindoor--India.Pakistan--Missile, Air Defense Hierarchy

 Ref: DivO 5750.2B

    (a) MCO 5750.4

    (b) FMF Pac 5750.8

    (c) DivO 57550.2B

Encl: (1) In accordance with the above provisions of references (a), (b), and (c), enclosure (1) is submitted herewith.

PART I ORGANIZATIONAL DATA 

A. Pakistan

1.  Pakistan's missile defense hierarchy is structured under a three-tier system involving the National Command Authority (NCA), the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), and the strategic forces commands of the Army, Air Force, and Navy.

        a.  National Command Authority (NCA): 

                (1)  The highest decision-making body responsible for nuclear policy, strategic force deployment, and safeguarding nuclear assets. 

                (2)  It includes civilian and military leadership, with committees for employment control (policy and wartime deployment) and development control (technical and financial oversight). 

        b.  Strategic Plans Division (SPD): 

                (1)  Acts as the NCA's secretariat, headed by a three-star army general, managing day-to-day operations, planning, coordination, and command and control systems for strategic forces. 

                (2)  It oversees budget, administration, and security with a dedicated force for nuclear weapons protection. 

        c.   Services’ Strategic Forces Commands: Each military branch commands its nuclear delivery systems: 

                (1)   Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC): 

                        (i)  Controls land-based missiles including short- and medium-range ballistic missiles and ground-launched cruise missiles. 

                (2)   Air Force Strategic Command (AFSC): 

                        (i)  Operates nuclear-capable aircraft and air-launched cruise missiles.                 (3)   Naval Strategic Force Command (NSFC): 

                        (i)  Manages sea-based nuclear deterrent, including submarine-launched cruise missiles, providing second-strike capability.

B. India  

1.  India's missile defense hierarchy is structured as a two-tiered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system designed to protect against ballistic missile threats primarily from Pakistan and China. 

        a.  Command and Control: 

                (1)  Integrated command centers analyze radar data and coordinate interceptor launches to form a cohesive defense shield. 

        b.  Additional Elements 

                (1)  India has also developed sea-based missile defense capabilities, such as ship-launched interceptors tested from vessels like INS Anvesh. 

                (2)  The program is evolving with advanced technologies, including kinetic kill vehicles and plans for interceptors capable of engaging missiles at altitudes up to 100 km and beyond, as part of Phase 2 development. 

        b.   Two-Tiered BMD System Prithvi Air Defence (PAD): 

                (1)  This is the high-altitude interceptor designed to engage incoming ballistic missiles at exo-atmospheric altitudes of 50–80 km. 

                (2)  It is a two-stage missile capable of speeds over Mach 5 and intercepts missiles during their mid-course phase outside the atmosphere. Advanced Air Defence (AAD): This missile targets lower-altitude threats at endo-atmospheric altitudes up to 30 km, intercepting missiles during their terminal phase within the atmosphere. It is a single-stage solid rocket missile capable of speeds up to Mach 4.5. Supporting Components Radar Systems: The Long-Range Tracking Radar (LRTR), also known as Swordfish radar, detects and tracks incoming missiles up to 300 km away, providing mid-course updates for interceptors. 

        c.  In summary, India's missile defense hierarchy centers on a multi-layered shield with PAD for high-altitude interception and AAD for lower-altitude defense, supported by advanced radar and command systems to protect key regions like Delhi from ballistic missile threats.

PART II NARRATIVE SUMMARY

1.  Operation Sindoor was a joint military operation by the Indian Army and Air Force carried out on May 6, 2025, targeting nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. 

        a.   The operation aimed to hold accountable those responsible for the Pahalgam attack by hitting terror infrastructure linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba. 

        b.  Pakistan condemned the strikes as an "act of war" and vowed a strong response. 

2.   Operation Sindoor was a precision missile strike launched by India early on May 6-7, 2025, targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). 

        a.  Pakistan reported that five locations were hit, including Kotli, Muzaffarabad, and Bahawalpur, with three civilians killed and 12 injured. 

        b.  Pakistan condemned the strikes as a flagrant violation of international law and vowed a forceful response, asserting its right to respond under the UN Charter.

3.  Unconfirmed Reports 

        a.  Casualties 

                (1)   Unconfirmed casualty reports from Operation Sindoor. 

                (2)  Pakistan claims at least three civilians, including one child, were killed and 12 others injured due to Indian strikes on terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. 

                (3)  India has not officially released any casualty figures, and these Pakistani claims remain unverified independently. 

         b.  Aircraft 

                (1)   Pakistan claimed to have shot down two Indian jets during earlier skirmishes, though details on aircraft losses during Operation Sindoor remain unconfirmed.

        c.  Artillery 

                (1)   Both sides engaged in artillery exchanges, with Pakistan accusing India of firing missiles into its territory and India accusing Pakistan of violating ceasefire agreements by shelling forward villages.

PART III TECHNICAL ASPECTS 

A. Air Defense

1.  Pakistan's air defense system is a multi-layered network comprising various surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and other assets across its Army, Air Force, and Navy. 

        a.  The key types include: 

                (1)   High-to-Medium Air Defence System (HIMADS): The Chinese HQ-9/P with a range of about 125 km, capable of intercepting aircraft and cruise missiles using active radar homing and phased-array radar guidance. 

                (2)   Low-to-Medium Air Defence System (LOMADS): Primarily the LY-80 and LY-80EV (HQ-16 variants) with ranges of 40 km and 70 km respectively, using semi-active radar homing and passive electronically scanned array radars for target tracking. 

                (3)   Extended Short-Range Air Defence System (E-SHORADS): The FM-90 (Chinese HQ-7 variant), with a range up to 15 km, employing command guidance to engage low-flying targets like drones and helicopters. 

                (4)   Short-Range Air Defence System (SHORADS): Man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) including Saab RBS-70 NG (9 km range), Chinese FN-6 and FN-16 (6 km range), and indigenous ANZA Mk2 and Mk3 (5 km range). Additionally, 

        b.  Pakistan employs various anti-aircraft guns and artillery of different calibers (12.7 mm to 57 mm), mostly Chinese and locally produced, for low-altitude defense. 

                (1)  The system is integrated and layered to provide comprehensive coverage against diverse aerial threats. 

        c.  Pakistan's missile arsenal includes a range of ballistic and cruise missiles with varying ranges, supported by modern air defense systems like the HQ-9/P and HQ-16FE for medium to long-range air defense, enhancing protection against missile threats

2.  India operates a multi-layered air defense system comprising: 

        a.   Ballistic Missile Defence Programme with two tiers: 

                (1)   Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) for high-altitude (exo-atmospheric) interception up to 80 km altitude. 

                (2)   Advanced Air Defence (AAD) for lower-altitude (endo-atmospheric) interception up to 30 km altitude. 

        b.  Short-range systems include: 

                (1)   Akash medium-range surface-to-air missile with a range of 45 km. S-125 Pechora, a Soviet-origin system with a 30 km range. 

                (2)   SPYDER missile system. Barak 8, used by all three services for multi-role air defense. 

                (3)   Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) with a range of 25–30 km, highly mobile and equipped with electronic countermeasures. 

                (4)   Future induction includes the S-400 Triumph for intermediate-range interception. 

                (K5)   These systems collectively provide layered defense against aerial threats like ballistic missiles, aircraft, and cruise missiles.

PART IV CIVILIAN DEFENSE 

A. Pakistan

1.  Pakistan's civilian defense hierarchy 

        a.  Structured at federal, provincial, and district levels, primarily under the Directorate General of Civil Defence, which operates under the Ministry of Interior (MoI). 

                (1)  The federal directorate manages training institutions and provides fire and life safety consultancy, while provincial directorates function under respective home ministries with district offices led by District Coordination Officers serving as Controllers of Civil Defence.

                (2)  Key civilian defense programs include training in bomb disposal, first aid, firefighting, and disaster management, offered free to government officials, autonomous bodies, and the general public. 

        b.  Civil Defence also organizes volunteer activities during emergencies and inspects fire safety compliance in buildings and industries. 

                (1)  Large-scale training initiatives have been conducted, such as training thousands of teachers and students after the 2014 Army Public School attack. The Civil Defence Department liaises with the Armed Forces to implement and update war schemes and is a member of the International Civil Defence Organization based in Geneva. 

                (2)  Its peacetime functions focus on minimizing effects of enemy actions, bomb disposal, warden services, and public training. In summary, Pakistan's civilian defense system is a decentralized, multi-tiered organization focused on disaster preparedness, emergency response, and public safety training, coordinated through federal, provincial, and district offices under the Ministry of Interior 

2.   The Indian civilian defense hierarchy

        a.  Primarily led by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which provides policy framework and resources for the armed forces and civil defense. 

                (1)  The President of India is the ceremonial Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, while real control lies with the Prime Minister and the executive branch. Key components of the Indian defense hierarchy and programs: 

        b.   Ministry of Defence (MoD): 

                (1)  Responsible for overall defense policy, coordination, and resource allocation. 

        c.  Integrated Defence Staff (IDS): 

                (1)  Created in 2001 to integrate policy, doctrine, war-fighting, and procurement across Army, Navy, and Air Force, headed by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). 

        d.   Chiefs of Staff Committee: 

                (1)  Composed of service chiefs advising the Defence Minister; replaced in part by the CDS role. 

        e.   Theatre Commands: 

                (1)  India is moving towards Integrated Theatre Commands to unify operational commands across services, including Eastern, Southern, and Aerospace Commands, plus specialized commands like Strategic Forces Command, Special Operations Command, and Cyber Command. 

        f.   Civil Defence Organization: 

                (1)  Under the Ministry of Home Affairs, it coordinates civil defense efforts including training, emergency preparedness, and auxiliary forces like Home Guards and National Cadet Corps. 

        g.   Major Defense Programs: 

                (1)  Include raising specialized corps such as the Mountain Strike Corps, modernizing Army Aviation with new helicopters, and launching large procurement programs for small arms and other equipment. 

                (2)   This structure ensures civilian control over the military while enhancing joint operational capabilities and civil defense readiness in India.

PART V SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS 

1.   Both India and Pakistan have upgraded their military capabilities since their 2019 conflict. 

        a.  India operates Rafale jets armed with Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles and has acquired Russia's S-400 air defense system. 

        b.  Pakistan fields Chinese J-10 fighters equipped with PL-15 missiles and uses the HQ-9 air defense system, derived from Russia's S-300, along with a fleet of U.S.-supplied F-16s. 

2.  Both sides also use drones and ballistic missiles, with Pakistan recently testing a surface-to-surface ballistic missile. 

        a.  Primary sources on India-Pakistan missile and air defense systems include:                 (1)   India’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system, formalized in a $5.43 billion deal in 2018, which forms a key layer in India’s multilayered air defense shield alongside indigenous systems like PAD, AAD, and Barak-8 missiles.                 (2)   Pakistan’s air defense modernization focusing on medium- and long-range surface-to-air missiles, mainly imported from China and Europe, alongside growing indigenous development to counter threats. 

                (3)   Pakistan’s missile development history involving technology acquisition from China and North Korea to overcome Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) restrictions, leading to missiles like Hatf series and Abdali. 

                (4)   India’s layered missile defense systems under the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Programme, integrating systems like MR-SAM (Barak-8), Akash-NG, and Ashwin (AAD) to counter Pakistani missiles such as Abdali effectively.

3.  These sources provide detailed insights into the capabilities, procurement, and strategic rationale behind the missile and air defense systems of both countries.

4. Summary Table: Key Statements and Actions

Document/Source Statement/Action Nuclear Reference?

Reuters (Khawaja Asif) Pakistan will use nuclear weapons only if existence is threatened Yes

Firstpost/Mint (Hanif Abbasi) Threatened nuclear retaliation if water supplies are cut Yes

Al Jazeera/BBC/Newsweek Pakistan warns of decisive response to Indian military action Implied/Yes

CNN, CBS, Diplomat Reports of military readiness and international calls for restraint Contextual

5. Domestic/International News/Social Media Outlets.

6. Synthetic Intelligence: Perplexity-AI.

7. Image credit:  https://ssbcrackexams.com/complete-list-of-air-defence-systems-used-by-the-indian-armed-forces/#google_vignette

Prepared for Charlie.Two by JCL, (204xxxx-2533), SubUnit Alpha, Firebase Tango.

End of Report

CLASSIFIED