The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) recently held a high-level conference to analyse the air campaign carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict. The Thai military experts, led by RTAF Deputy Chief of Air Staff for Intelligence, Sommai Leelitham, praised India’s Operation Sindoor as a flawless example of modern aerial warfare, commending its deep-strike accuracy, layered defence strategy, and complete lack of combat losses.
Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7, 2025, as a response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which had killed 26 civilians just two weeks earlier. Over the next four days, the IAF executed a series of highly coordinated strikes against 11 of Pakistan’s 13 main airbases, targeting high-value military infrastructure across Rawalpindi, Shorkot, and Sargodha. Key installations such as runways, radar sites, and command centres were successfully destroyed.
A major highlight of the operation was the neutralisation of Pakistan’s Swedish-made Saab 2000 Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft while it was grounded at Bholari airbase. This effectively blinded Pakistan’s air surveillance and disrupted coordination among its fighter squadrons.
The Thai analysis emphasised the IAF’s strategic use of advanced weapon systems. India deployed a diverse arsenal, including BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, French-origin SCALP air-launched cruise missiles, and Israeli Harop loitering munitions. These precision weapons enabled deep strikes into heavily defended Pakistani airspace, bypassing radar and evading intercept attempts.
The IAF also used a smart tactic to expose Pakistan’s radar network. Decoy aircraft were first flown into Pakistani airspace, triggering radar systems. These radar locations were then hunted and destroyed by Harop drones, which are capable of autonomously detecting and striking radio emissions. This cleared the way for Su-30MKIs, Rafales, and Mirage 2000s to carry out the main wave of attacks. According to the Thai report, the main strike phase was completed in just 23 minutes—underscoring the speed and precision of India’s air operation.
Another key factor in India’s success, as noted by the RTAF, was the integration of the Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defence system with India’s domestic Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). Together, they created a formidable air defence shield. On May 10, this system reportedly thwarted 26 separate Pakistani air intrusion attempts and was credited with destroying the Saab Erieye AEW&C aircraft before it could take off.
Satellite images from commercial firms confirmed heavy damage to Pakistani air bases, including destroyed hangars, deep craters on runways, and damaged radar domes. The Thai report also highlighted the failure of Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied defence equipment. The HQ-9 air defence systems and PL-15 air-to-air missiles, used by the JF-17 Block III fighters, failed to detect or intercept India’s incoming missiles and drones. This raised doubts about the reliability of Chinese military hardware in actual combat.
As per the Thai assessment, Pakistan suffered the loss of:
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2 JF-17 Block III fighter jets
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1 F-16
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1 Mirage-5
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1 C-130 Hercules transport aircraft
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1 Saab 2000 AEW&C surveillance plane
The damage reportedly caused a loss of critical assets worth billions of dollars and is expected to set back Pakistan’s air force by at least five years in terms of operational capability.
Despite Pakistani claims that it had shot down six Indian jets, the RTAF dismissed these as unsubstantiated and likely intended for domestic propaganda. There were no verifiable images or international confirmations to support Pakistan’s assertions.
In its final assessment, the Royal Thai Air Force concluded that Operation Sindoor stands as a vital case study for modern air forces worldwide. It showcased how a well-integrated, technologically superior, and tactically intelligent air campaign can achieve decisive results without suffering attrition. For Thailand and other regional powers, the operation has become a reference point for how air dominance can be achieved using a mix of precision weapons, real-time intelligence, and electronic warfare tactics.
With Operation Sindoor, India has demonstrated not only its growing strategic maturity but also its readiness to project air power decisively and defensively when required.
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