India launched Operation Sindoor as a strong response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22 carried out by the terror organisation The Resistance Front, which killed 26 civilians, including a Nepalese citizen.
Several politicians and actors such as Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Kangana Ranaut, and Allu Arjun praised the Indian armed forces for carrying out missile strikes early Wednesday in Pakistan. As per a News18 Hindi report, at exactly 12:37 AM, Indian fighter jets began firing missiles one after the other at key locations in Pakistan Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Bhimber, Chak Amru, and Gulpur targeting major terror camps with precision.
Operation Sindoor: This missile is deadlier, more precise than one used in Balakot airstrike, can deliver precision strikes even in…, its name is…
Within moments, Indian missiles struck several designated terror camps, throwing Pakistan into disarray. It is to be noted that the weapons deployed during the May 7, 2025, strikes were far more advanced and precise than those used in the Uri and Balakot operations. The Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighter jets deployed two key types of advanced missiles during the operation the SCALP cruise missile and the HAMMER precision-guided munition.
Jointly developed by France and the UK, the SCALP cruise missile (also known as SCALP-EG) is an advanced weapon. According to the News18 Hindi report, its full French name Syst me de Croisi re Autonome Longue Port e Emploi G n ral translates to “Long-Range Autonomous Cruise Missile for General Use.”
Designed specifically for air-to-ground precision strikes, the SCALP missile boasts a range of approximately 560 kilometers and is launched from platforms like the Rafale fighter jet. What makes SCALP especially lethal is its stealth technology, which allows it to fly at low altitudes and evade radar detection. It can penetrate deep into enemy territory to strike heavily fortified bunkers, command centers, and underground terror hideouts, delivering a 450 kg warhead with devastating accuracy.
HAMMER, or Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range, is a versatile air-to-ground precision-guided missile system created by the French defense company Safran Electronics & Defense.
Capable of striking targets up to 70 kilometers away, it is equipped with GPS and laser guidance systems, allowing it to operate effectively day or night, and in all weather conditions.
Launched from Rafale fighter aircraft, HAMMER missiles are designed to destroy bunkers, military installations, and terrorist camps with precision. What sets HAMMER apart is its speed and accuracy, enabling rapid response and pinpoint strikes in minimal time.
Missiles used in the strike on Pakistan’s terror camps also included those launched from Sukhoi and MiG aircraft. Among the air-to-ground weapons deployed from Sukhoi fighter jets were BrahMos-A, Kh-29, Kh-31, Kh-59, KAB-500, KAB-1500, Smerch S-8, S-13, and Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAAW), reported by News18 Hindi.
The MiG-21, a key fighter in the Indian Air Force’s fleet, can deploy advanced weaponry such as R-60 and R-73 infrared-guided missiles, along with R-27 radar-guided missiles.
Earlier, during the Balakot airstrike, the IAF had primarily used the SPICE 2000, a precision-guided bomb developed with Israeli technology. Dropped from the Mirage 2000 aircraft, it was specifically chosen for its ability to strike fortified targets with pinpoint accuracy.