ISLAMABAD: The recent aerial confrontations during India’s OperationSindoor in May 2025 have taken a revealing turn with prominent Indiandefence analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra confirming a blue-on-blue incident,where Indian forces inadvertently engaged and destroyed one of their ownassets. This friendly fire event, described as similar to the 2019 downingof an Indian Mi-17 helicopter by the SPYDER air defence system, occurredseparately from the reported shootdowns of up to seven Indian jets by thePakistan Air Force on the night of May 6-7. The admission highlightspersistent challenges in coordination and identification amidhigh-intensity operations, raising questions about operational readinessdespite India’s claims of strategic success.
The Operation Sindoor began on May 7, 2025, as a retaliatory measurefollowing the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 civiliansin Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. India launched precision missilestrikes targeting nine sites linked to militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed andLashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir. Initialreports from New Delhi emphasised that no Pakistani military or civilianfacilities were intended as targets, framing the action as a measuredcounter-terrorism effort. However, the rapid escalation into a four-dayconflict involving large-scale aerial engagements exposed vulnerabilitieson both sides, with the blue-on-blue incident emerging as a critical butunderreported detail.
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, known for his commentary on Indian defence matters,publicly acknowledged the friendly fire occurrence during discussions onvarious platforms analysing the operation’s outcomes. He drew parallels tothe February 2019 Budgam incident, where an Indian Mi-17 V-5 helicopter wasmistakenly struck by a SPYDER surface-to-air missile shortly after takeofffrom Srinagar amid heightened tensions post-Balakot strikes. In thatearlier case, a Court of Inquiry confirmed the mishap resulted fromidentification failures and procedural lapses, leading to the loss of sixIndian personnel and one civilian. The recurrence in 2025 suggests thatsystemic issues in integrated air defence protocols may persist despitetechnological advancements.
The May 2025 clashes witnessed one of the largest beyond-visual-rangeaerial battles in recent history, involving over 100 fighter jets from bothair forces. Pakistan claimed to have downed several Indian aircraft,including Rafale fighters, using Chinese-origin systems such as the PL-15missile launched from J-10C platforms. India, in turn, reported destroyingmultiple Pakistani assets and inflicting significant damage on airbasesthrough subsequent strikes. The friendly fire episode, occurring amid thischaos, was distinct from these exchanges and underscores the fog of war,where high-alert postures can lead to tragic misidentifications even amongallied forces.
Military analysts have noted that Operation Sindoor represented asignificant evolution in India’s strategy, shifting from symbolic actionsto direct cost-imposition against perceived terrorist infrastructure. Yet,the operation’s initial phase on May 6-7 saw substantial losses, withadmissions from Indian officials confirming aircraft downed by Pakistanifire. The blue-on-blue confirmation by Iyer-Mitra adds another layer ofcomplexity, illustrating that even advanced integrated systems face risksfrom human error, communication breakdowns, or IFF transponder malfunctionsduring intense standoff engagements.
The conflict concluded with a ceasefire on May 10, 2025, facilitatedthrough diplomatic channels, including reported U.S. involvement.Post-conflict assessments have varied widely, with Indian sourceshighlighting dominance in later phases and destruction of key targets,while Pakistani narratives emphasise effective defence and deterrence. Thefriendly fire revelation, however, serves as a sobering reminder ofoperational hazards, prompting calls for enhanced training, better platformintegration, and stricter adherence to identification protocols to preventrecurrence in future contingencies.
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This incident also reflects broader lessons from regional aerialconfrontations, where nuclear-armed neighbours must balance assertiveresponses with de-escalation mechanisms. The parallels to 2019 reinforcethe need for continuous review of air defence procedures, particularly incontested environments involving diverse equipment origins.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025India%E2%80%93Pakistanconflict
Tags: India, Pakistan, Operation Sindoor, Pakistan Air Force, SPYDER System
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