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LESSONS FROM OP SPIDER’S WEB
(Maj Gen Harvijay Singh, SM)
A brilliant operation for the history books. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
Op Spider’s Web – A high-profile drone strike deep (upto 4000 kms) inside Russia carried out on 1 June 2025, led by Sluzhba Bezpeky Ukrayiny or Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU). Interestingly, the drones were launched from inside Russian territory …. hidden in wooden cabins mounted on flatbed trucks …. designed to look like ordinary mobile homes .… remotely operated roofs that opened to ….. free the hunters. Interestingly the load was delivered simultaneously to designated places with unsuspecting drivers guided on mobiles. Then the roofs opened, and the drones flew ….. some drivers threw stones at them …. others must have fainted in shock. A modern-day Trojan Horse. The drones were controlled over the Russian 4 G Networks and OFC spools used for the last mile to evade jamming. 117 FPV drones targeted five Russian airbases: Belaya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo Severny, Olenya, and Ukrainka with phenomenal precision. The pilots, working from Ukraine, aimed at vulnerable points such as fuel tanks in the wings with penny packet load of explosives. Plan like chessmasters … strike like pirates. At the centre was the Osa Drone – Ukrainian for “Wasp” an indigenous FPV quadcopter. Key Specs – Payload: Up to 3.3 kg (enough for a shaped charge or incendiary device). Flight Time: ~15 minutes. Top Speed: 150 km/h. • Each drone had its own pilot, using ArduPilot software (a powerful, open-source autopilot software suite that enables autonomous control of unmanned vehicles). • To avoid jamming, drones used dead reckoning navigation – a technique that estimates a vehicle’s current position based on a previously known location, factoring in speed, direction, and elapsed time – without relying on external signals like GPS. And, • AI-based target recognition in case of signal loss enabling drones to autonomously identify, classify, and engage targets with min human inputs. At the core of this capability are machine learning (ML) and deep learning algorithms trained on vast datasets of images and sensor data. Some drones were trained to identify and strike fuel tanks on aircraft for maximum damage – and they did.
The Impact – both financial and strategic: • Ukraine claims that the strike damaged/ destroyed 41 aircraft, including Tu-95s, Tu-22M3s, and A-50s, and estimates $7 billion in losses to Russia’s strategic aviation. Cost of the Osa Drone – $ 2000. • Ukraine’s deepest strike into Russian territory – over 4,000 km in some cases. It exposed serious vulnerabilities in Russia’s internal security. It also sent a powerful message that Ukraine can hit high value targets anywhere, anytime. • There were No boots on the ground – just technology, timing, and deep analysis of the terrain. • The strike damaged Russia’s long-range strategic bomber fleet, some of a vintage that they cannot be repaired or replaced crippling their strategic reach. Lessons • In modern warfare, the battlefield can be anywhere. There is no FLOT – Front Line of Own Troops, just a tangled web of hybrid tactics, psychological manoeuvres, and technological infiltration. • Strategy, planning and preparedness are essential but audacious and outlandish execution gets the bull’s eye. Master the fundamentals, then blow the doors off convention. • Surprise and deception remain crucial factors in modern warfare. Tough but essential in a world overflowing with data, sensors, and satellite eyes. • About a 100 Drones may have been assembled surreptitiously within Russia. Such indifference can destroy civilizations. Citizens have to be aware and accountable on issues of national security. • Propaganda and sabre-rattling are tools of perception warfare meant to blur the truth, twist the narrative, and create just enough doubt to stall decision-making. Wars are not however always about ‘noise’ many victories squeeze in quietly. • Suicide bombers are a thing of the past … switches will be pressed 1000s of miles away. Everything that needs to be secured must be secured, and pronto. Finally, • Drones are rewriting Operational Art, they are being used in wildly creative ways – is the next step swarm autonomy or something more disruptive? Countermeasures will require multi domain shields and doctrines …. not as afterthought though.
Three Reasons Why Indian Army Lost Against Pakistan Army In Indo Pak War | Pravin Sawhney Analysis
US attacks Iran: Strikes 3 nuclear sites
Washington: President Donald Trump has said that the US military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel’s effort to decapitate the country’s nuclear programme in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran’s threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict.
The decision to directly involve the US comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country’s air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities.
But US and Israeli officials have said that American stealth bombers and a 30,000-lb bunker buster bomb they alone can carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily-fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear programme buried deep underground.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump said in a post on social media on Saturday.
“All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”
Trump said B-2 stealth bombers were used but did not specify which types of bombs were dropped. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately elaborate on the operation.
The strikes are a perilous decision for the US as Iran has pledged to retaliate if it joined the Israeli assault, and for Trump personally, having won the White House on the promise of keeping America out of costly foreign conflicts and scoffed at the value of American interventionism.
Trump told reporters on Friday that he was not interested in sending ground forces into Iran. He had previously indicated that he would make a final choice over the course of two weeks, a timeline that seemed drawn out as the situation was evolving quickly.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday warned the United States that strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will “result in irreparable damage for them”.
No radioactive traces detected in environment: Saudi nuclear regulator
June 22, 2025 8:39 am
Saudi nuclear regulator: No radioactive traces detected in the environment of the kingdom or Arab gulf states as a result of US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Reuters
Trump wins immediate praise from Republicans in Congress after announcing strikes on Iran
June 22, 2025 8:32 am
Washington: Congressional Republicans — and at least one Democrat — immediately praised President Donald Trump after he said on Saturday evening that the US military bombed three sites in Iran. AP
Iran’s nuclear agency confirms strikes on atomic sites
June 22, 2025 8:29 am
Dubai: Iran’s nuclear agency on Sunday confirmed attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz atomic sites, but is insisting its work will not be stopped. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran issued the statement after President Donald Trump announced the American attack on the facilities. “The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran assures the great Iranian nation that despite the evil conspiracies of its enemies, with the efforts of thousands of its revolutionary and motivated scientists and experts, it will not allow the development of this national industry, which is the result of the blood of nuclear martyrs, to be stopped,” it said in its statement. AP
Trump says Iran’s key nuclear sites ‘completely and fully obliterated’ by US strikes
June 22, 2025 8:26 am
Washington: President Donald Trump says Iran’s key nuclear sites were “completely and fully obliterated” by US strikes. Trump made the comments at the White House on Saturday night hours after announcing the US military had carried out strikes against three key nuclear facilities in Iran. The president also warned Tehran against carrying out retaliatory attacks against the US, saying Iran has choice between “peace or tragedy”. AP
UN condemns US strikes on Iran
June 22, 2025 8:24 am
United Nations: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was “gravely alarmed” by the “dangerous escalation” of American bombers attacking nuclear sites in Iran. “There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,” he said in a statement. He said that “at this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos” and called for further diplomacy. AP
Trump says he worked ‘as a team’ with Israel’s prime minister to strike Iran
June 22, 2025 8:22 am
Washington: US President Donald Trump said he worked “as a team” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike Iran, saying the collaboration was “perhaps” like “no team has worked before”. But Trump also noted that no military in the world except for that of the US could have pulled off the attack. AP
Iran’s nuclear program threatened our very existence: Netanyahu
June 22, 2025 8:18 am
Israel’s Netanyahu: Iran’s nuclear program threatened our very existence and endangered world peace. Reuters
Pakistan pushing Turkish weapons into Punjab
Attempt to destabilise law & order by arming gangsters with advanced weaponry, say officials
Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service
Turkiye seems to be in the limelight as far as the trend of weapon smuggling from Pakistan to Punjab is concerned.
After the deployment of Turkish drones by the neighbouring country against India during the four-day border confrontation in May, Pakistan appears to be now air-dropping Turkish PX5 pistols into Punjab with the help of drones.
The goal, officials believe, is to destabilise law and order in the region by supplying gangsters and terror modules with advanced foreign weaponry. This month alone, security agencies have recovered PX5 pistols in three separate operations in Punjab.
The latest haul came on Saturday in Amritsar, where two distinct operations yielded three PX5 pistols — two from the city and one from the district’s rural belt. This is in addition to Zigana Pistols from Turkey which were recovered earlier.
The Punjab Police dismantled a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module operated by UK-based handler Dharam Singh, alias Dharma Sandhu.Sandhu is considered a close aide of Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Rinda.
Based on intelligence inputs, Amritsar Commissionerate Police arrested Onkar Singh and seized six high-calibre pistols, including two PX5 (.30 bore) and four Austrian-made Glock 9MM pistols.
In a parallel operation, the Amritsar Rural Police intercepted a separate consignment from Lopoke village.
Here, officers arrested Lovepreet Singh, alias Love, and Balwinder Singh, alias Bobby, with one PX5 (.30 bore) pistol, 6.15 kg of heroin and Rs 10,000 in suspected narco-funds. A case has been registered at the Lopoke police station and further strengthens the suspicion of a tight narcotics-arms trade nexus operating across Punjab.
These seizures follow earlier recoveries of PX5 pistols this month. On June 5, the Amritsar police arrested Sukhchain Singh of Daoke and Jugraj Singh of Bhakna Kalan while they were attempting to ferry eight foreign-made weapons, including four PX5 pistols, via the Amritsar-Attari road.
The weapons were allegedly dropped by a drone sent by a Pakistan-based handler, Noor.
A day later, on June 6, the Tarn Taran police detained Surajpal Singh and Arshdeep Singh from Lakhna village and seized two PX5 pistols along with four Glock 9mm pistols. The consignment, the police say, was also linked to Pakistani handlers.
These developments reflect a disturbing evolution in cross-border smuggling operations. PX5 pistols, made by TISAS in Turkiye, are quickly becoming the weapon of choice for criminals in Punjab. But they are not alone.
Turkiye supported Pakistan during the recent conflict with India in May. According to multiple reports, the country supplied Pakistan with over 350 drones, including armed UAVs and kamikaze drones, which were used to target Indian military infrastructure across the northern and western borders.
Two Turkish military operatives were reportedly killed during the Operation Sindoor, India’s counter-offensive, confirming Turkiye’s direct involvement in the conflict.
Turkish advisors also helped coordinate Pakistani drone strikes, and forensic analysis of downed drones revealed they were Asisguard Songar models, manufactured in Turkiye.
The PX5 pistols are manufactured by TISAS. They are smuggled into Punjab via drones launched from across the border with Pakistan.
Glock 19X pistols, made by Glock Ges mbH in Austria, are 9mm military-grade weapons that are sought after by gangsters for their reliability and compact design.
Beretta .30 pistols, produced by the Italian arms manufacturer Beretta, are known for their compactness and have been recovered in multiple operations. Star Mark .30 pistols, originally manufactured by Star Bonifacio in Spain, are older models but still circulate among smugglers and gangsters.
These modern semi-automatic handguns were recovered along with drones.
The .45 bore pistols, originating from the United States, and have been found in consignments linked to US-based handlers.
Lastly, .32 bore pistols, sourced from various
manufacturers across India and Europe, remain common, though some have been traced to international sources
Punjab heritage trust, local school unite to preserve Hoshiarpur’s war memorial
Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Punjab Chapter and Guru Gobind Public School (GGPS), Nainowal Vaid, have announced plans to preserve the Dholbaha War Memorial in Hoshiarpur district. This initiative aims to highlight Punjab’s often overlooked military history and reconnect the youth with their cultural roots.
Maj Gen Balwinder Singh (Retd), INTACH Punjab State Convener, and Harjit Singh, Principal of GGPS Nainowal Vaid, recently visited Dholbaha, a village in the Shivalik hills known for its prehistoric sites. While Dholbaha is famous for ancient artefacts, its significant contribution to modern military history, especially in World War I, remains underappreciated.
During the visit, the team focused on the village’s cultural and military heritage, noting that Dholbaha sent an extraordinary 73 soldiers to fight in World War I. This is remarkable for such a small, remote village, especially compared to other Punjabi villages that contributed fewer soldiers. INTACH life member and military history enthusiast Harpreet Singh Bhatti highlighted that the village’s war memorial plaque still stands as a quiet testament to this contribution.
Maj Gen Singh expressed concern that much of Punjab’s military history remains under-explored and poorly documented, with successive governments failing to preserve these stories. This neglect often leaves Punjab’s youth feeling disconnected and searching for opportunities elsewhere.
Punjab was historically known as the “sword arm” of the British Empire in India. During World War I, over one million Indians served, with more than 300,000 from Punjab. Despite making up just eight percent of India’s population at the time, Punjab contributed roughly 40 percent of India’s total war effort. In this context, Dholbaha’s contribution of 73 soldiers from a small, agrarian village is especially noteworthy.
The region’s martial tradition dates back to ancient times, with service under empires like the Mauryans, Guptas, and later Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Sikh Empire. Military service was not only a matter of honour (izzat) but also a source of financial security, attracting young men from villages like Dholbaha, where agriculture offered limited economic opportunities.
Maj Gen Singh noted that while villages in Majha, with high Sikh populations, typically provided more soldiers, Dholbaha’s contribution matches or exceeds many better-connected villages in Doaba and Malwa. However, official records of Dholbaha’s soldiers remain incomplete.
According to recently digitised documents from the University of Greenwich and the UK Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA), which transcribed over 300,000 Indian soldiers’ World War I records, only two soldiers from Dholbaha appear in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) listings: Sepoy Jagat Ram of the 67th Punjabis and Sepoy Jaisi Ram (also called Jodhi Ram) of the 37th Dogras. Yet, the village war memorial lists eight soldiers killed in action, highlighting discrepancies in historical documentation and unequal recognition of Indian soldiers in British records.
The University of Greenwich is currently working on a CWGC-funded research project to address these gaps, expected to uncover many untold stories of Indian soldiers.
Maj Gen Singh has urged the government to establish a small museum at Dholbaha’s war memorial, displaying names, photographs, and personal stories of the 73 soldiers. This would preserve their memory and educate future generations about their martial heritage.
INTACH Punjab is also considering creating a dedicated military history wing within the state chapter to identify, preserve, and promote Punjab’s global military contributions. This wing would collaborate with the CWGC and UKPHA to ensure accurate documentation and rightful recognition.
“Through the preservation of the Dholbaha War Memorial, INTACH Punjab and GGPS Nainowal Vaid aim to honour the silent sacrifices of the village’s soldiers and inspire pride and belonging among Punjab’s youth,” Maj Gen Singh said.
Pak Nominates Trump For Nobel Prize For ‘Pivotal Leadership’ In Truce With India
Pakistan has formally nominated former US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, crediting his “decisive diplomatic engagement and pivotal leadership” during the 2025 India-Pakistan crisis.
According to official statements from Islamabad, Trump’s intervention was instrumental in defusing heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, ultimately preventing a full-scale war that could have had catastrophic regional consequences.
The nomination was publicly announced on the Pakistani government’s verified social media accounts, where officials emphasized Trump’s “strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship” in engaging both Islamabad and New Delhi at a critical moment.
The crisis reportedly began following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam area, which resulted in significant casualties and a sharp escalation of cross-border hostilities. Pakistan described India’s actions as “unprovoked and unlawful aggression,” alleging a violation of its sovereignty and the loss of civilian lives.
In response, Islamabad launched Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, which it characterised as a “measured and precise military response” aimed at restoring deterrence while minimising harm to civilians. As tensions threatened to spiral out of control, Pakistan claimed that Trump’s “back-channel diplomacy” played a decisive role in de-escalating the situation and brokering a ceasefire.
Islamabad’s statement lauded Trump as a “genuine peacemaker,” highlighting his commitment to resolving conflicts through dialogue. The Pakistani government also acknowledged Trump’s repeated offers to mediate the Kashmir dispute, viewing his involvement as a “sincere commitment to durable peace in South Asia.” The statement stressed that lasting peace in the region would remain elusive without a resolution to the Kashmir issue in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions.
However, the Indian government has categorically denied any external intervention in the truce talks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a recent phone call with Trump, reiterated that discussions were held at Islamabad’s request and that no other nation was involved. India’s foreign ministry has consistently maintained its long-standing position against third-party mediation in its bilateral disputes with Pakistan.
Despite these denials, Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for brokering peace between India and Pakistan, asserting that his efforts were crucial in averting a potential war. He has also expressed frustration over not being recognised for his diplomatic interventions in other global conflicts, stating, “They won’t give me a Nobel Peace Prize because they only give it to liberals”.
The nomination comes shortly after Trump hosted Pakistan’s Army Chief, Asim Munir, at the White House—a rare meeting that followed the four-day military flare-up. Munir had previously advocated for Trump’s Nobel nomination, crediting him with averting a potential nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan. The White House confirmed the meeting and Munir’s praise for Trump’s role in calming tensions.
While Pakistan has lauded Trump’s diplomatic intervention as pivotal in preventing war, India has firmly rejected the notion of any external mediation, emphasising that the ceasefire resulted from direct bilateral engagement. The nomination underscores the divergent narratives regarding the resolution of the crisis and highlights the ongoing geopolitical sensitivities surrounding the India-Pakistan relationship.
Agencies
Yoga with soldiers: Continue practising to be battle-ready, says Rajnath Singh
Says Operation Sindoor a shining example of restraint and balance displayed by armed forces that were attained by practising yoga
Appreciating the inclination of the armed forces personnel towards Yoga, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said its practice prepares a soldier physically and mentally and makes him battle-ready.
Singh led a mass yoga demonstration on the occasion of International Day of Yoga at northern command headquarters here, performing various asanas and breathing exercises with 2,500 soldiers.
The event was joined by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma.
Yoga sessions were also performed at numerous forward locations in the challenging terrain of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, showcasing the commitment and enthusiasm of the soldiers.
The Defence Minister appreciated the inclination of the armed forces personnel towards yoga which, he said, had a direct impact on their discipline and focus.
“Yoga prepares a soldier physically and mentally and its benefits can be seen in the battlefield,” he said, encouraging the soldiers to continue practising it daily.
In his address to the troops, he termed yoga as a universal solution to the problems faced by people in today’s fast-paced world such as stress, anxiety and depression.
“Yoga gives clarity to people in chaos. It is an art, a science, a philosophy, and spirituality. Those who practice yoga in their daily lives have control over their body and mind. It makes us proactive, not reactive,” he said.
Describing Operation Sindoor as a shining example of that control, the defence minister said Indian Armed Forces displayed restraint, balance and precision during the operation, which is a reflection of their inner strength attained by practising yoga.
This year’s theme for the International Day of Yoga is ‘One Earth, One Health’.
He said, “The whole world is a family and working for it is a part of our thinking. Yoga is a practical expression of this thinking, it is silently changing the world and every citizen should be proud of the fact that India’s ancient tradition is being recognised and accepted globally.”
Trump’s $175 Billion ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Shield: Likely To Fail Like Reagan’s Star Wars?
Donald Trump’s proposed $175 billion Golden Dome missile defence system is the most ambitious U.S. missile shield initiative since Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), known as “Star Wars”.
The plan envisions a multi-layered shield using hundreds of satellites equipped with sensors and interceptors—potentially including space-based lasers—to detect and destroy incoming ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles from adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea.
Comparison To Reagan’s Star Wars (SDI)
Like SDI, Golden Dome aims to intercept missiles at all stages of flight, including the “boost phase,” which is technically the most challenging. Reagan’s SDI was ultimately abandoned after years of investment due to insurmountable technical and financial hurdles, as the necessary technology did not exist at the time and remains highly challenging today. Critics have drawn direct parallels between the two projects, noting that while technology has advanced, the scale and complexity of defending the entire U.S. from advanced missile threats is vastly greater than the regional defence provided by systems like Israel’s Iron Dome.
Technical And Strategic Challenges
Scale And Complexity: The U.S. is far larger than Israel, making nationwide coverage exponentially more difficult. The Iron Dome was designed for short-range, low-volume threats, whereas Golden Dome must counter long-range, high-speed, and manoeuvrable threats (ICBMs, hypersonic glide vehicles, and orbital systems).
Technological Hurdles: Intercepting missiles in the boost phase requires rapid detection and response, which is extremely difficult given the short window and the speeds involved. Many proposed technologies, such as space-based lasers, remain unproven at scale.
Cost And Timeline: The Congressional Budget Office estimates a truly comprehensive missile shield could cost over $500 billion across two decades, far exceeding Trump’s $175 billion, three-year plan. Cost overruns and delays are likely, as seen with past missile defence programs.
Strategic Risks: Deploying such a system could accelerate an arms race, prompting adversaries to develop new offensive capabilities to overwhelm or evade the shield, further destabilizing global security.
Expert Consensus
Most independent experts and analysts believe the Golden Dome is unlikely to achieve its stated goals. The technical, financial, and strategic obstacles mirror those that doomed the SDI; despite advances, the fundamental challenges of intercepting sophisticated, high-speed missile threats over a vast area remain unresolved. Even if partial capabilities are fielded, the system is expected to fall short of comprehensive protection and may provoke adversaries to escalate their own weapons programs.
“The plan for an advanced missile defence shield over the US offers no guarantee of success and risks undermining global security… Like the Golden Dome, the SDI proposed a layered defence system that would rely on cutting-edge, and largely untested, technologies… But despite years of investment, the SDI never produced a workable system and was eventually cancelled, exposing the gap between ambition and capability that still exists today.”
Conclusion
Trump’s Golden Dome missile shield faces the same insurmountable challenges as Reagan’s Star Wars: unproven technology, immense cost, and the near-impossibility of reliably defending the entire U.S. from advanced missile threats. History and technical realities suggest the plan is bound to fall short of its ambitions, just as SDI did decades ago.
IDN
