ThePrint CutTheClutter: Air power, artillery & BVR combat era: Op Sindoor Vir Chakra citations fill some gaps
Oct 23, 2025
The podcast dives into the recently released Vir Chakra citations, revealing insights about Operation Sindhu. The discussion highlights the distribution of awards among the Air Force, Army, and Navy, shedding light on precision artillery used in combat. Citations are explored to infer tactical executions, showcasing Air Force deep-strike missions and successful engagements against sophisticated enemy defenses. The narrative also emphasizes the courage of infantry along the Line of Control and the challenges faced by pilots during critical strike packages, providing a detailed perspective on this 87-hour operation.
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Citations Reveal Role But Hide Tactics
- The government released citations for 15 Vir Chakras, nine of which went to the Air Force, showing air power was the tip of the spear.
- Citations are intentionally vague to avoid revealing tactics or making future operations easier for the adversary.
Limit Operational Detail In Citations
- Avoid publishing granular operational details in citations because adversaries learn and adapt for future encounters.
- Keep tactical specifics vague to preserve surprise and deny easy replication by the enemy.
Artillery Played A Strategic Role
- Seven of nine ground targets were assigned to the Army and destroyed the same night, with visual drone evidence.
- Precision long-range artillery, not only air power, performed many strikes using guided munitions at much lower cost.