Op Safed Sagar: Why ex-IAF Chief thinks the US didn’t manipulate GPS during Kargil

The Netflix series Operation Safed Sagar has reignited interest in the Indian Air Force's (IAF) air operations during the Kargil conflict, which concluded on July 26, 1999. Operation Safed Sagar entailed various IAF squadrons, notably the No. 17 Golden Arrows, executing groundbreaking air operations, such as nighttime bombing missions above Kargil's snow-capped peaks. Former IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, formerly commanding officer of the No. 17 Squadron MiG-21s, discussed these operations with The Indian Express.

Dhanoa recounted the challenges of executing nighttime bombing missions at high altitudes. The mountains' moonlit reflections posed risks, as clouds could obscure the moon, forcing pilots to abort and descend at low altitudes. The Pakistanis had positioned a radar atop a hill on the LoC, accurately identified by ELINT aircraft, prompting IAF to navigate below the crest line and enter the valley before releasing weapons. This maneuver minimized exposure to enemy shoulder-fired SAMs.

During Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja's Battle Damage Assessment mission, he was targeted by a Stinger missile following his radar pick-up. Despite the incident, Ahuja adhered to safety protocols, gliding to the Indus River before ejecting and surrendering to Pakistani forces. He later died from small arms injuries.

Concerns arose regarding American GPS manipulation during the conflict. However, Dhanoa dismissed these claims, explaining that pre-2000 GPS signals contained errors, but the MiG-21 and MiG-23 BN aircraft featured Time Arc-6 GPS sets enabling pilots to utilize Indian Everest coordinates, correcting any discrepancies.