Operation Safed Sagar

When most people think of the 1999 Kargil War, they imagine the Indian Army soldiers climbing icy peaks, waving the tricolour after victory. But there was another battle being fought high above those mountains. It was a mission that changed how India used air power forever. This mission was Operation Safed Sagar.

Recently, with a new Netflix series on Safed Sagar Operation, many are beginning to discover this lesser-known story. It is the perfect time to look back at what really happened in the skies during the Kargil War and why it still matters today.

Operation Safed Sagar, which means “White Ocean,” was the codename used by the Indian Air Force for its air operations during the Kargil War. It was not only about dropping bombs from the sky. It was about precision strikes, intelligence gathering, electronic surveillance, air support to the Indian Army, and rescuing injured soldiers.

The goal was clear. The Indian Air Force had to help the Indian Army push back around 5,000 Pakistani troops and militants who had secretly captured about 130 to 150 mountain peaks along the Line of Control.

To do this, the IAF used more than 60 aircraft and 35,000 personnel. They flew over 5,400 strike missions, 3,400 helicopter flights, and 900 reconnaissance missions from bases such as Ambala, Adampur, and Srinagar.

Operation Safed Sagar took place in one of the most difficult war zones in the world. The fighting happened at altitudes between 15,000 and 18,000 feet. The thin air reduced aircraft performance by almost half. Temperatures dropped far below zero, and pilots had to deal with the lack of oxygen, strong winds, and steep valleys.

This was the highest-altitude air war ever fought. Despite these challenges, the Indian Air Force achieved remarkable success. The Mirage 2000 aircraft used laser-guided bombs for the first time in Indian combat history. Older MiGs and Jaguars carried out bombing runs using traditional techniques, while helicopters supplied troops and attacked enemy positions.

In many cases, the airmen used their creativity and improvisation. They added GPS devices by hand to older jets and attached special laser pods to make the weapons more accurate.

In the winter of 1998 and early 1999, Pakistan secretly launched Operation Koh-e-Paima, in which its Northern Light Infantry soldiers and militants took control of Indian posts in Kargil. Their aim was to cut off the Srinagar-Leh highway, isolate Ladakh, and force India to negotiate on Kashmir.

When the intrusions were discovered in May 1999, India, under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, decided to act firmly but carefully. The government ordered that the Indian Air Force could use air power, but must not cross the Line of Control. This decision was important because both India and Pakistan had recently tested nuclear weapons, and the world was watching closely.

On 26 May 1999, the Indian Air Force launched its first air strikes. Mirage 2000 aircraft bombed positions around Tololing and Point 5140, while Mi-17 helicopters attacked enemy bunkers with rockets at extremely high altitudes.

The next day, there were heavy losses. A MiG-21 and a MiG-27 were shot down, and an Mi-17 helicopter was lost to enemy missiles. These setbacks led the Air Force to change its tactics and shift to higher-altitude bombing runs.

By early June, the IAF had carried out over 1,200 air strikes. They destroyed major supply camps at Muntho Dalo and blocked enemy routes by triggering avalanches. By July, the combined efforts of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force led to the capture of Tiger Hill and Tololing. The air campaign shortened the war by almost three weeks.

On 26 July 1999, India declared victory.

Operation Safed Sagar had many brave heroes whose names deserve to be remembered.

• Wing Commander Ajay Ahuja was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra after being shot down while trying to locate his missing comrade, Flight Lieutenant Nachiketa.
• Flight Lieutenant K. Nachiketa was captured after ejecting from his aircraft and returned home five days later.
• The Mi-17 helicopter crew of Capt. Sanjeev Sehgal, Sq. Ldr. R. K. Sharma, WO Surinder Singh, and Sgt. Anil Kumar received the Shaurya Chakra posthumously for their courage in attacking enemy positions before their aircraft was hit.
• Ground staff, engineers, and rescue pilots also played vital roles, working day and night under constant threat.

These were the unsung warriors who made Operation Safed Sagar a success.

The operation brought major changes to the Indian defence system. After the war, India established the Chief of Defence Staff to ensure better coordination between the Army, Air Force, and Navy. The Indian Air Force also began investing in new technology, including drones, precision-guided weapons, and modern aircraft like the Rafale and Tejas.

The Kargil War proved that modern wars require teamwork between ground and air forces. It also showed that India could fight a “limited war” with restraint and professionalism, which earned worldwide respect.

Even today, most people know the Kargil War through the stories of ground battles and soldiers. Very few know about the courage and innovation that went into Operation Safed Sagar.

So the next time you read or watch something about the Indian Army in the Kargil War, remember that there were heroes in the skies too. They fought invisible battles, flew through thin air, and turned the impossible into victory. Their story deserves to be told and remembered.