IAF airstrike: Bombs worth Rs 1.7 crore, josh of pilots... priceless

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 26, 2019 : It took the Indian Air Force (IAF) laser-guided bombs worth approximately Rs 1.7 crore to destroy the biggest Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Pakistan’s Balakot area, Yahoonews repoorted.

 

Soon after the IAF destroyed key launchpads of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan, it has come to light that Rs 2,568 crore worth airborne Indian assets entered Pakistani territory to carry out the mission on February 26.

1,000 kg of bombs--each worth 56 lakh--were dropped by the IAF to attack the biggest JeM terror camp on Jaba Top near Balakot and other smaller terror camps in Muzaffarabad and Chakothi areas.

A total of 200-300 terrorists including some top Jaish commanders were neutralised, said sources.

IAF deployed approximately Rs 6,300 crore of military assets for the operation, out of which assets worth Rs 3,686 crore was kept on standby.

An Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) surveillance aircraft worth Rs 1,750 crore also kept a 36-degree watch on Pakistani airspace to keep an eye out for enemy aircraft during the operation.

An Ilyushin mid-air refilling tanker worth Rs 22 crore and IAF’s Heron surveillance drone worth Rs 80 crore also contributed to the mission.

Meanwhile, 3 Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30MKI air superiority aircraft (each worth Rs 358 crore) were on standby in Indian Territory during the course of the 21-minute long mission. 5 MiG 29s (each worth Rs 154 crore) were also on alert on the ground.

At least 12 IAF Mirage 2000 aircraft-each worth Rs 214 crore-took part in the main mission. They took off from the Gwalior airbase armed with 225 kg GBU-12 conventional laser-guided bombs kitted with American-built precision guidance.

Each GBU 12 Paveway II (Guided Bomb Unit), introduced by the US in 1976, carries a 225 kg warhead worth Rs 14-14.7 lakh. The IAF used around 4 to 5 bombs worth Rs 56 lakh-Rs 73.5 lakh in each of the three locations.

The Mirage jets were also armed with close combat missile to retaliate against any possible Pakistan Air Force response during the mission.

At 3:30 am, IAF carried out a swift 21-minute attack to destroy Pakistan-based terror camps across the LoC. As soon as they got a green signal from the main IAF command centre, the pilots used laser pods to eliminate the targets.

The attack comes 12 days after Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility for the suicide attack in south Kashmir’s Pulwama that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) paramilitary troopers.