The teaser of the series based on Operation Safed Sagar has been released.
The teaser of a series based on an important operation of the Indian Air Force has been released on Netflix, which is in the news. This series is said to be inspired by the story of that period in India, when the Indian Air Force accurately targeted the enemy targets across the border with the help of laser guided bombs, which was named Operation Safed Sagar. How the Indian Air Force carried out one of the most challenging air operations in history at high altitude against Pakistan-backed infiltrators in 1999.
Precision guided weapons, particularly the laser guided bomb (LGB), were first used on a large scale in warfare. Know what was Operation Safed Sagar, how was the role of laser guided bombs which presents a holistic picture linking the two major air strikes carried out by India against Pakistan—Kargil (1999) and Balakot (2019)?
What was Operation Safed Sagar?
The main objective of the Kargil war was to drive out the Pakistani soldiers and military-supported infiltrators who had occupied the Indian posts that had been vacated in the winter. The ground operation of this mission was called Operation Vijay, while the air operation of the Indian Air Force was named Operation Safed Sagar.
This battle being fought at a height of 1618 thousand feet of the mountains was very difficult for the Indian Air Force. The thin layer of air, the high position of the intruders, and the threat from enemy Stinger missiles. Amidst all this, the Indian Air Force needed a method that would pose less risk to the pilots, ensure that the bombs hit the target exactly and there would be no unnecessary collateral damage. This is where laserguided bombs changed the course of the war.
This battle was fought at a height of 1618 thousand feet of the mountains.
When laser guided bombs took the decisive lead in Kargil
Aircraft like Mirage 2000 were considered ideal for precision strikes. The Indian Air Force used targeting pods to accurately identify targets and for the first time fired laserguided bombs on high altitude bunkers. These bombs track the light reflected from the laser beam and fall on the target with an accuracy of a few meters. This technology gave three important advantages in Kargil.
- Precise strikes on military positions: Indian Air Force’s attacks on Tiger Hill, Tololing and surrounding peaks captured by Pakistan Army proved to be decisive.
- Enemy’s supply line stalled: The use of laser guided bombs on difficult targets like Daga Top forced the enemy to retreat.
- Ground forces have an edge: Precise bombing weakened the Pakistani soldiers sitting on the mountains, and gave the Indian Army the opportunity to climb up.
Operation Safed Sagar established India’s air power at a new level. This was the first time that the world saw that the Indian Air Force could successfully use modern precision strike capability even in high mountains. The Netflix series is an attempt to bring forward this untold bravery, the technical challenges of that era and the courage of the pilots.
Poster of Operation Safed Sagar.
Did India use lasers or precision bombs later also?
After Kargil, India conducted a large-scale precision air strike on Pakistan in the year 2019. SPICE 2000 and other precision guided bombs were used in this operation, its basic objective was the same as during Kargil. After the terrorist attack in Kashmir in April last year, Indian security forces had carried out a similar strike by entering the Pakistani border. Precise and limited strikes on terrorist targets, without getting involved in a large-scale war, sending a clear and strong message to the enemy.
Balakot Air Strike – Modern version of Kargil’s technology
After the suicide attack in Pulwama on 14 February 2019, India targeted the training camp of terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan. On 26 February, India, for the first time since Kargil, carried out precision strikes deep inside Pakistan. Mirage 2000 aircraft were also involved in this mission, that is, the same platform which laid the foundation of victory in Operation Safed Sagar. The only difference was that this time the altitude was not like Kargil and apart from laser guided bombs, the weapons also included advanced SPICE guided bombs. The Balakot strike showed the world that India has the capability of surgical, high precision, stand off strike, in which it can attack in limited time, on limited targets, with extreme accuracy.
White Sea and Balakot: How much strategic similarity?
For the Indian security forces, especially the Air Force, both operations were similar in many ways.
- Limited objectives, clear targets, eliminating infiltrators in Kargil, destroying terrorist training infrastructure in Balakot.
- Due to high political and military sensitivity, the IAF was under strict restrictions not to cross the LoC in Kargil. The cross-border strike in Balakot was announced publicly for the first time in history.
- Reliance on precision guided weapons, laser guided bombs in Kargil changed the course of the war. PGMs hit the target accurately in Balakot.
- Acting swiftly, precisely and in a limited time, both operations achieved their objectives within hours.
If Operation Safed Sagar in 1999 proved that India could deliver precise strikes with laser-guided bombs even in the most difficult circumstances, the 2019 Balakot air strike showed that India could strike at the source of terrorism if necessary.
The use of laser guided bombs and modern precision technology has reshaped India’s military power. From Kargil to Balakot, the Indian Air Force has shown that victory in modern warfare is achieved not just by force but by accuracy, preparation and timely decisions.
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