Beyond the Harop: Ex-WAC Chief Reveals the Hidden Missile That Blinded Pakistan's Air Defence

A Command Centre Revelation

In a candid conversation on the ANI Podcast, Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, the officer who oversaw Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor, has peeled back the curtain on one of the most decisive moments of the conflict. From his position at the nerve centre of the operation, Mishra recounted the events of May 10th, when a Pakistan Air Force AWACS platform attempted to gather intelligence on Indian airspace. The aircraft had departed from PAF Base Mushaf in Sargodha, a facility situated a mere 200 kilometres from the international border. Recognizing the threat, Mishra authorized an S-400 air defence battery to engage the target. The result was catastrophic for Pakistan: the high-value surveillance asset was struck and destroyed at a distance of 314 kilometres inside Pakistani territory.

The Missing Piece in the Puzzle

While initial reports heavily focused on the use of Harop loitering munitions equipped with anti-radiation seekers, Mishra’s testimony indicates a far more complex strike package. He explicitly stated that dedicated air-to-ground missiles were employed to neutralize some of the larger, more hardened radar installations. This revelation suggests that the Harop drones were not acting alone but were part of a layered offensive strategy. However, the Air Marshal stopped short of identifying the specific type of anti-radiation missile used in these engagements, leaving defence analysts to piece together the operational picture based on the Indian Air Force's known inventory.

The Prime Suspect: The Sukhoi Fleet

The IAF's Rafale fleet, despite its advanced capabilities, does not currently field a dedicated anti-radiation missile. This operational gap points directly to the Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI as the likely launch platform. The Su-30MKI is fully integrated with the Kh-31 family of supersonic anti-radiation missiles, making it the natural choice for this type of high-risk mission. These missiles are specifically designed to home in on enemy radar emissions, allowing pilots to destroy air defence systems from a safe distance.

Understanding the Kh-31 Arsenal

India operates two primary variants of this formidable missile. The baseline Kh-31P has an operational range of approximately 110 kilometres, providing a solid standoff capability. The more advanced Kh-31PD, acquired around 2019, features an elongated fuselage and improved propulsion systems that push its maximum range to roughly 250 kilometres. Both versions are capable of reaching supersonic speeds approaching Mach 3.5. This blistering velocity, combined with the extended range of the Kh-31PD, allows Indian Air Force Su-30MKI and MiG-29 aircraft to engage hostile air-defence radars while remaining well outside the effective envelope of most retaliatory surface-to-air missiles.

The Radar Kill List

The effectiveness of this coordinated campaign is evident in the specific targets that were eliminated. According to reports, the Indian Air Force successfully destroyed multiple Pakistani radar installations during Operation Sindoor. The list includes two AN/TPS-43 radars positioned in Sukkur and Lahore, along with two AN/TPS-77 radars located at Arifwala and Chunian. The destruction of these four critical nodes would have created significant gaps in Pakistan's early warning and air defence network, severely degrading their ability to detect and respond to incoming Indian aircraft.

Key Takeaways

• Air Marshal Mishra confirmed that a Pakistani AWACS was shot down by an S-400 missile 314 km inside Pakistan after taking off from PAF Base Mushaf in Sargodha.
• The operation utilized both Harop loitering munitions and dedicated air-to-ground anti-radiation missiles, indicating a multi-layered attack strategy.
• The Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI fleet is the likely launch platform for the Kh-31P and Kh-31PD missiles used against Pakistani radars.
• Four specific radar installations were destroyed: two AN/TPS-43 radars in Sukkur and Lahore, and two AN/TPS-77 radars in Arifwala and Chunian.
• The Kh-31PD variant, with its 250 km range and Mach 3.5 speed, provides the IAF with a critical advantage in suppressing enemy air defences.