Op Sindoor: India's 'Latkan Baba' Ruse Duped Pak, China; US Noticed

Operation Sindoor: How the IAF Used AI-Driven Decoys to Outsmart Missile Strikes

New Delhi: Operation Sindoor, a recent mission carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF), demonstrated the power of precision, patience, and modern electronic warfare. Without fanfare or official announcement, India reportedly executed a sophisticated military deception that misled Pakistan into believing it had shot down a Rafale fighter jet.

According to reports, the IAF used a cutting-edge Israeli decoy system called X-Guard, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The X-Guard is a 30-kilogram electronic countermeasure pod suspended under a fighter aircraft, trailing by a fiber-optic cable nearly 100 meters long. Its purpose is to mimic the radar signature of a real jet, confusing enemy air defense systems and drawing fire away from the actual aircraft.

During the operation, Pakistani radar systems locked onto the decoy, mistaking it for a Rafale. Surface-to-air missiles were launched, celebrations reportedly followed, and claims were made that a Rafale had been taken down. However, it was the decoy that had been targeted—not the jet. The real Rafale had already completed its mission and returned safely.

Nicknamed "Latkan Baba" by IAF personnel, the X-Guard successfully replicated the speed, movement, and radar echo of a genuine aircraft. Its AI-driven system responded in real-time to radar tracking, acting as a credible target to fool incoming missiles.

The operation also revealed the limitations of China-supplied air defense technology in the region. Pakistan's defense network, equipped with Chinese J-10C radars and PL-15E missiles, had tracked and engaged what it believed were Indian jets. However, their systems were deceived by the electronic decoys.

Former US Air Force pilot Ryan Bodenheimer, who once flew F-16s, praised the operation as a significant milestone in modern warfare. He described it as a brilliant execution of electronic deception that allowed real aircraft to carry out their missions undetected and unharmed.

Operation Sindoor is now being studied as a model for next-generation warfare—where data, decoys, and smart technology can achieve strategic goals without direct combat. It underlines how electronic warfare and AI-driven systems are reshaping the battlefield, making it as much about disruption and misdirection as firepower.

While public statements remain limited, the success of the mission marks a notable advancement in India’s defense capabilities and its use of modern warfare technologies.