NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force on Monday shared a commemorative video marking the anniversary of ' Operation Safed Sagar ', its 1999 air campaign during the Kargil War against Pakistan.
Operation Safed Sagar was the IAF’s codename for its air operations conducted in support of the Indian Army’s Operation Vijay , which was launched to evict Pakistani troops and infiltrators who had illegally occupied Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil sector.
In a post on X, the IAF said: “Operation Safed Sagar — the Indian Air Force’s codename for its air operations during the KargilWar1999 — was launched in support of ground forces under Operation Vijay. It aimed to flush out Pakistani regulars and intruders who had occupied Indian positions along the LoC in the Kargil sector.”
The operation was historic, being the first large-scale use of air power in the Kashmir region since the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The IAF executed high-altitude precision operations in some of the world’s most challenging mountainous terrain, redefining the role of air power in limited conflicts.
The IAF also shared the list of aircraft used during Operation Safed Sagar to take on Pakistan in the Kargil War. These included Mirage 2000s, MiG-21s, MiG-29s, MiG-23s, MiG-27s, Jaguars, Mi-17 helicopters, and Chetak helicopters.
The IAF mentioned: “Never before had an air force been tasked with such high-altitude precision operations in rugged mountainous terrain - making it a watershed moment in military aviation history.”
Operation Safed Sagar also broke conventional thinking about air power. It demonstrated that limited, targeted air strikes could have a decisive impact without escalating into a full-scale war.
“The operation not only showcased the versatility and resolve of the Indian Air Force but also established the deterrent value of calibrated air strikes—even in a low-intensity conflict,” the IAF said.
“It proved that air power could decisively alter the course of battle without crossing international boundaries.”
The Kargil War lasted from May to July 1999 in the Kargil district of then Jammu and Kashmir, now part of the Union Territory of Ladakh. The conflict began when Pakistani troops and militants infiltrated across the LoC.
India responded with full force, and Operation Vijay led to the successful recapture of key positions.
The IAF’s tribute to Operation Safed Sagar comes weeks after its recent offensive under Operation Sindoor , a retaliatory strike launched on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
In that action, nine known terrorist hubs sponsored by Pakistan were destroyed, showing India’s continued calibrated use of air power in counterterror operations.
Operation Safed Sagar was the IAF’s codename for its air operations conducted in support of the Indian Army’s Operation Vijay , which was launched to evict Pakistani troops and infiltrators who had illegally occupied Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil sector.
In a post on X, the IAF said: “Operation Safed Sagar — the Indian Air Force’s codename for its air operations during the KargilWar1999 — was launched in support of ground forces under Operation Vijay. It aimed to flush out Pakistani regulars and intruders who had occupied Indian positions along the LoC in the Kargil sector.”
#ThisDayThatYear | 26 May 1999#OpSafedSagar — the Indian Air Force’s codename for its air operations during the KargilWar1999 — was launched in support of ground forces under Operation Vijay. It aimed to flush out Pakistani regulars and intruders who had occupied Indian… pic.twitter.com/CtBJvqRqsx
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 26, 2025
The operation was historic, being the first large-scale use of air power in the Kashmir region since the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The IAF executed high-altitude precision operations in some of the world’s most challenging mountainous terrain, redefining the role of air power in limited conflicts.
The IAF also shared the list of aircraft used during Operation Safed Sagar to take on Pakistan in the Kargil War. These included Mirage 2000s, MiG-21s, MiG-29s, MiG-23s, MiG-27s, Jaguars, Mi-17 helicopters, and Chetak helicopters.
The IAF mentioned: “Never before had an air force been tasked with such high-altitude precision operations in rugged mountainous terrain - making it a watershed moment in military aviation history.”
Operation Safed Sagar also broke conventional thinking about air power. It demonstrated that limited, targeted air strikes could have a decisive impact without escalating into a full-scale war.
“The operation not only showcased the versatility and resolve of the Indian Air Force but also established the deterrent value of calibrated air strikes—even in a low-intensity conflict,” the IAF said.
“It proved that air power could decisively alter the course of battle without crossing international boundaries.”
The Kargil War lasted from May to July 1999 in the Kargil district of then Jammu and Kashmir, now part of the Union Territory of Ladakh. The conflict began when Pakistani troops and militants infiltrated across the LoC.
India responded with full force, and Operation Vijay led to the successful recapture of key positions.
The IAF’s tribute to Operation Safed Sagar comes weeks after its recent offensive under Operation Sindoor , a retaliatory strike launched on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
In that action, nine known terrorist hubs sponsored by Pakistan were destroyed, showing India’s continued calibrated use of air power in counterterror operations.
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