What is the News?

  • India and France are close to signing a major defence deal worth around ₹3,200 crore (300 million euros).
  • India plans to purchase additional SCALP long-range cruise missiles from France.
  • These missiles were successfully used by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during Operation Sindoor (2025).
  • A final decision on the deal is expected soon.

WHAT WAS OPERATION SINDOOR?

  • Operation Sindoor was a major cross-border precision strike conducted by India in May 2025.
  • It was launched after the Pahalgam terror attack (22 April 2025) in Jammu & Kashmir.
  • 26 civilians were killed, including:
    • One Indian Navy officer
    • One Nepali citizen
  • It became India’s largest strike after the Balakot Airstrike (2019).

HOW WERE SCALP MISSILES USED?

  • SCALP missiles were fired from Rafale fighter jets.
  • Targets included terror headquarters of:
    • Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)
    • Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT)
  • Locations: Muridke and Bahawalpur (Pakistan).
  • The missiles achieved pinpoint accuracy.
  • After the initial strike, the Indian Air Force:
    • Attacked 12 Pakistan Air Force bases
    • Destroyed fighter jets and surveillance aircraft on the ground
  • India used multiple high-precision weapons:
    • SCALP cruise missiles
    • BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles
    • HAMMER precision-guided bombs
    • Loitering munitions (used for surveillance and final strike)
  • Total 9 terror-linked sites were targeted:
    • 4 in mainland Pakistan
    • 5 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)
  • The Ministry of Defence (MoD) clarified that:
    • No Pakistani military installations were targeted
    • Only verified terror centres were attacked

WHAT IS SCALP MISSILE?

  • SCALP is also known as Storm Shadow.
  • Full form: Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée.
  • It means long-range autonomous cruise missile.
Type
  • Air-launched cruise missile
Range
  • More than 250 km
  • Provides stand-off strike capability (can hit targets without entering enemy airspace)

KEY FEATURES

  • Flies at very low altitude to avoid radar detection
  • Uses GPS, inertial navigation and infrared seeker
  • Designed for deep-penetration strikes
  • Can destroy:
    • Bunkers
    • Command centres
    • Air bases
    • Ammunition depots

COUNTRIES USING SCALP

  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Greece
  • India
  • In India, it is integrated with Rafale fighter aircraft.

FUTURE PLANS OF INDIAN AIR FORCE

  • India is purchasing Meteor air-to-air missiles for Rafale jets.
  • 26 Rafale Marine aircraft have been ordered for the Indian Navy.
  • The Air Force is planning to procure 114 additional Rafale aircraft.
  • In the next 10–15 years, India may have around 200 Rafale jets.
  • Rafale is expected to become the mainstay fighter aircraft of the IAF.