HAMMER & SCALP: Weapons India used to target terror sites in Pakistan, PoK under Operation Sindoor

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday launched

Operation Sindoor

, targeting

terror camps in Pakistan

and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation destroyed multiple Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) training facilities.Carried out in retaliation for the

Pahalgam terrorist attack

that killed 26 civilians on April 22, the mission was "focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature."The Indian forces specifically targeted key JeM and LeT bases involved in orchestrating terror attacks within India. A total of nine sites were hit, including Jaish-e-Mohammed’s base in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s hub in Muridke.Using advanced precision weaponry and real-time intelligence, the Army, Navy, and Air Force conducted the strikes in coordination, avoiding any engagement with Pakistani military installations.

India employed a range of high-precision, long-range strike weapons during the operation, including the

SCALP cruise missile

, the

HAMMER precision-guided bomb

, and loitering munitions.SCALP cruise missileSCALP, also known as Storm Shadow, is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile designed for precision deep strikes against high-value, fixed targets. Manufactured by the European defence firm MBDA, the missile is conventionally armed and primarily used to destroy fortified bunkers and critical infrastructure.Weighing approximately 1,300 kilograms (2,870 pounds), SCALP is typically deployed from advanced fighter jets like the Rafale. Its integration into the Indian Air Force arsenal enables stealth operations deep within enemy territory, particularly for pre-planned missions targeting strategic assets.Beyond India, SCALP has seen combat use in Iraq, Libya, and Syria, and was also supplied to Ukraine, where its long range significantly enhanced the country's capability to strike deep behind Russian lines.HAMMER precision-guided bombHAMMER, short for Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range, is an air-to-ground precision-guided missile system developed by Safran Electronics & Defense, a French defense firm. Designed for medium-range tactical missions, HAMMER delivers high-accuracy strikes against both stationary and mobile targets.Its standout feature is a modular design, allowing it to be fitted with various guidance systems—including GPS, infrared imaging, and laser targeting. This versatility makes it effective against a broad spectrum of targets, from fortified positions to moving assets on the battlefield.Loitering munitionsLoitering munitions, often called "kamikaze drones," are used for surveillance, target identification, and executing precision strikes. They loiter over potential targets and can engage threats either autonomously or under remote human control.During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force deployed HAMMER missiles to engage targets requiring precision and flexibility, such as medium-range sites and potentially mobile assets linked to terror groups in the region. HAMMER’s adaptable guidance systems allowed the IAF to strike locations where dynamic targeting was essential.Its use complemented the SCALP missile, which is optimised for long-range strikes on fixed targets. Together, the deployment of HAMMER and SCALP enabled the IAF to carry out deep, precise attacks inside Pakistani territory, neutralising terror infrastructure without involving ground troops.