7 May

India

Defence

Intel and wrong strategic framing hamstrung IAF on 7 May

By David Devadas June 4, 2025 6 May 7 May 8–9 night 9–10 May Accountability air defence air force air strikes air superiority Anil Ambani Anil Chauhan back-up plan BJP MLA catspaw CDS China Chinese involvement Chinese jets civilian restraint combat readiness corruption DEAD defence coordination defence failure Drone warfare export versions External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar flawed planning foreign media geopolitical conflict gilgit baltistan Global Media IAF Indian intelligence Indian pilots Information warfare integrated air defence integrated systems intelligence failure international response J-10 jets J-35 Jammu jointmanship Kashmir Conflict Kashmir Valley media narrative military escalation military planning military targets Mirage aircraft Mirage deal miscommunication misinformation misinformation warfare missile attack national defence National Security nuclear war official announcement operational freedom original Chinese jets PAF PAF involvement Pahalgam bloodbath Pakistan Pakistan Air Chief Pakistani pilots PL-15 missiles PLAAF political leadership press conference proxy involvement proxy war RAW retaliation retaliation strategy satellite surveillance satellite-based defence SEAD security czars sovereignty sovereignty violation Spectra suite stealth fighter strategic blunder strategic framing strategic parameters Subramaniam Swamy tactical mistake terror camps terrorist training hubs top brass Trump Turkey Turkish drones Turkish involvement Udhampur air base UK USA warfare strategy weapons systems Western chorus Western media Western powers

As bits of information, including videos, dribbled in on 7 May, one realised that some IAF planes seemed to have been hit. Amid the booms…

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