The Lessons Not Learnt From Op Sindoor
The Tribune, 18 October, 2025
By: Vice Admiral (ret'd) Harinder Singh, former Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
DETAILED REBUTTAL
It would have been professionally educative if the three star officer had deemed it fit to explain to the nation as to why Indian Navy in 2025 does not have a single AIP enabled Submarine, while Pakistan Navy is nearing acquisition of AIP enabled submarine in double digits. He ought to have also expressed his pearls of wisdom about the future operational employment of ‘WHITE ELEPHANTS’ of the Indian Navy (as called by former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral JG Nadkarni at the time of acquisition of Admiral Goroshkov from Russia), the Aircraft Carriers. In any full blown conflict with Pakistan and China in future Indian Navy will have two distinct roles. First and obvious to fight and neutralize Adversary’s Naval Power but the second role would be more demanding and interesting; To protect the ‘WHITE ELEPHANTS’ from being sent to bottom of Indian Ocean or Arabian Sea and becoming an infungible asset.
Instead the former DCNS opted to narrate the shortcomings of sister service, the IAF. Indeed IAF and the other services require to upgrade not only their respective weapons but also the employment strategy from time to time. It is a continuous process.
His statements, some of which will be quoted below, reflect his extremely poor understanding of employment of Air Power. One must never breach the undefined red line while talking about other’s capability about which one has no clue since that was not her/his profession. For instance it is the specialists at ISRO, who are competent to decide the launch window, trajectory etc of rocket launch. Anyone else attempting to do that will obviously mess it up as the former DCNS has done deliberately and not inadvertently talking about IAF operational capability. It reflects on his poor inter-service grooming. Sadly he does not comprehend the meaning of words ‘MUTUAL INTER DEPENDENCE’.
His views in public domain castigating sister service is an outstanding example of professional profligacy. If indeed he wanted to advise the IAF, he ought to have written to present CAS and not in news paper to earn brownie points. Unfortunately he has unwittingly castigated the current CAS. Perhaps he has done it inadvertently due to poor command of language.
Few of his ‘pearls of wisdom’ (in black), in original as expressed by former DCNS are listed below with my comments.
· Yet the IAF’s reluctance to acknowledge operational shortcomings whilst it is claiming it won every war and skirmish since independence is not new---- ------.
By making such statement he has willfully acknowledged his total ignorance about IAF operations. I will quote just one out of the hundreds of outstanding accomplishment by IAF. He has no clue that J&K is part of India because IAF PILOTS FLEW OVERLOADED IAF Dakotas and crossed the Banihal Pass and landed at Srinagar with brilliant and brave soldiers of our great Army. Western Air Forces, USAF in particular, still cannot believe that brilliant IAF pilots flew Dakotas well outside limits of performance successfully.
· During Balakot airstrikes in February 2019 deploying outdated MiG 21-----
Such mention about one of the most versatile aeroplane reflects his total ignorance not only about the platform but also those, who were in charge of operations. By expressing his views about MiG 21, he has joined the club of unprofessional, who have called MiG 21 a flying coffin etc. I wish he had spent more time viewing Indian Navy’s submarine fleet capability during his tenure as DCNS. If he had done so Indian Navy will not be without AIP enable Submarines in 2025. Incidentally operations are under direct control of DCNS. Due to his lack of initiative National Security has indeed been jeopardized because Indian Ocean region is susceptible to attacks by Pak AIP enabled Submarines.
· The loss of an IAF helicopter to friendly fire despite minimal aerial activity was unacceptable poor preparation and training.
. He has obviously never heard of ‘FRATRICIDE’, an unwanted and undesirable event under hot war conditions. His mention of ‘minimal aerial activity’ further reflects his total ignorance about actual happenings in matter of few seconds.He ought to know thatnce a light bulb is meant to give light but it also produces heat, an unwanted product. Fratricide during HOT WAR conditions is akin to that.
· If the IAF CLINGS to outdated notions of presige platformsand solitary glory, it will not only squander scarce resources but also compromise national security.
What a disgraceful comment/opinion about sister service as if IAF is any less patriotic than other services. It is a matter of professional shame that former DCNS decided to let such derogatory words appear as the centre piece of his professionally despicable write up.
· Why invest in increasingly expensive aircraft that won’t cross borders or engage in close combat?
Yet another profligate statement reflecting his total lack of knowledge and understanding about employment of Air Power. Will the former DCNS educate the nation as to how a WHITE ELEPHANT costing INR 39,000 Crore defend the nation, when it cannot defend itself.
· Air Chief is even now fighting a rearguard action to persuade the Raksha Mantri away from jointness.-----resist integration into joint theatre commands.
It is a sad commentary on professional grooming of former DCNS. He does not know that SERVICE CHIEFS are INSTITUTIONS not INDIVIDUALS. A mature professional would avoid such utterances about any serving or past Chief. He obviously cannot comprehend that decision makers are obviously not convinced about validity of utterly flawed Theatre Command concept propagated by first CDS. It is five years and counting but former DCNS and his protégé currently in chair are unable to contest IAF logic. Proposal of unified AIR DEFENCE COMMAND has already been thrown in the dust bin. Ist CDS wanted Air Defence Command to be set up by 30th June, 2020. Will the former DCNS tell the nation any instance under HOT WAR conditions, in which Indian Military faced adverse results due to lack of coordination. He obviously has no clue about ‘MEGHNA RIVER CROSSING’ during 1971 war executed by professionally competent and motivated IAF and Indian Army commanders without any SOPs in existence. Unstated precept of ‘mutual inter dependence’ is ingrained during NDA training. I wonder if he is ex NDA. If not, his utterances are understandable.
· For decades, it (IAF) has operated in isolation, seeking accolades without offering mutual support to the other services.
His ignorance is unbelievable. For records during 1971 conflict IAF flew 6609 sorties of which 3243 sorties were for CLOSE AIR SUPPORT, a whopping 49%. I am shocked that he did not know such basics yet became DCNS.
· Even the 1971 missile attack on Karachi went without air support.
Former DCNS is not aware of facts. IAF had already struck the refinery, Shahbaz airfield a day prior to Naval missile attack, one of the most daring feat by Indian Navy. Kindly read Cmde Ranjit’s book dealing with facts to educate yourself. Will the DCNS also tell the nation that naval missile boats struck Karachi Harbour in pitch dark conditions. PAF could have done nothing to retaliate. In fact burning flames of oil tanks was the guide to naval boats to aim the missiles. Even subsequent IAF strikes used the flames as target identification.
· The IAF has often been accused of overstating its achievement while underplaying its lapses.
In short former DCNS has breached all standards of morality, both professional and personal, by calling IAF as a LIAR. For his info; Only a LIAR calles someone else a LIAR without substantive proof.
· It is time for the IAF and its leadership to be held to account.
It is time the former DCNS did self appreciation instead of maligning sister service, a despicable act of professional immaturity and ignorance.
· They must come clean-not just about the causes of recent setbacks and what they plan to do about it.
Former DCNS needs to come clean as to how and why he wrote such professionally unwarranted piece full of lies and wrong facts. Former DCNS must not worry about IAF operations because IAF has been and is in extremely competent hands and does not practice maligning sister service. Anyone maligning a sister service is unfit to be called a soldier.
Vice Admiral Harinder Singh sought premature release as FOC-in-C. I cannot recall if any C-in-C LEVEL officer from Army and IAF sought premature release, grounds notwithstanding. I always believed Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat was not wrong in not accepting him as DCNS. Vice Admiral Harinder Singh has confirmed it by writing this article. No one can denigrate a service and get away. It is unfortunate that former DCNS did not learn this basic etiquette. It is never too late to learn.
Gp Capt TP Srivastava
Former Director Ministry of Defence 18 October, 2025
Copied verbatim
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