Pakistan and India between clash from “6th to 10th May 2025 is being regarded as a trailer of 21st-century modern warfare by defense experts worldwide. Analysts are closely observing the weapons, tactics, and outcomes of this conflict to develop strategic assessments of different nations’ potential performance in future wars.
Amid these developments, one particular defense maneuver has gained significant attention in global media: **Pakistan’s successful interception and destruction of India’s SCALP cruise missile mid-air.
The SCALP missile also known as Storm Shadow launched by India towards Pakistan’s Sargodha Air Base is a long-range cruise missile deployable only from advanced fighter jets like the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon.
This missile is extremely expensive possesses stealth capabilities flies at very low altitudes to evade radar detection, and has pinpoint accuracy with a range exceeding 500 km. It is typically used to strike high-value strategic enemy assets.
Notably, the SCALP missile was previously operational only with select NATO countries such as the UK, France, and Italy By acquiring it from France India became the first non-NATO country to possess this missile, intending to use it as a strategic pressure tool against Pakistan.
However Pakistan’s claim of intercepting and destroying the missile mid-flight on 7th May has raised serious questions about India’s war strategy.
According to defense analysts, if Pakistan can track and destroy a stealth, low-flying missile like SCALP it implies that India’s other cruise and ballistic missiles, including BrahMos, no longer pose the threat they once did.
The BrahMos a joint venture between India and Russia is considered one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles and was seen as a game-changer threat against Pakistan. However, the destruction of the SCALP missile proves that Pakistan’s air defense systems can now effectively counter such advanced, high-speed weapons.
Until now, it was believed that only a handful of countries such as the US Israel Russia, and China had the capability to intercept missiles like SCALP Pakistan achieving this feat is being seen as remarkable.
It is important to note that destroying a missile like SCALP requires more than just a missile launcher it is the result of an integrated system involving radar networks, digital tracking, signal intelligence, and electronic warfare capabilities.
Pakistan’s recent advancement reflects that its defense capabilities are no longer limited to conventional warfare but have now matched many developed nations in high-tech military defense architecture.
The destruction of the SCALP missile is not just a financial loss for India but a strategic blow Defense experts believe that the credibility of India’s most expensive defense programs has been weakened.
Pakistan Gains Psychological Superiority in Deterrence
India will now have to reassess the effectiveness of its expensive yet ineffective weapons against Pakistan.
British, French, and Chinese defense journals have termed this event a game-changing interception.
The Washington Post wrote
Can take down pakistan a SCALP in flight, South Asia’s balance of airpower is no longer tilted.
Meanwhile Al Jazeera and China Defense Review stated that Pakistan’s action is not just about destroying a missile but **”a redefinition of regional air deterrence.
SCALP missile is not only a major technical and military achievement for Pakistan but also lays the foundation for a new balance of power in the region.
It Incident this serves as a warning to India and stands as proof of Pakistan’s clear superiority in cyber-electronic warfare, missile defense, and combat intelligence.
✒️M.Mohsin
