IAF improvised in Kargil war at 18,000 feet

The Indian Air Force (IAF) had to improvise in the Kargil war in 1999, fighting an air-to-ground campaign at altitudes of 14,000 to 18,000 feet for the first time, Times of India reports. Operation Safed Sagar began on May 26, after the Cabinet Committee on Security cleared offensive air power on May 25. The IAF had already been involved in logistics, casualty evacuation, and reconnaissance.

Fighters from 13 squadrons, including MiG-21, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, and MiG-27, targeted Pakistani positions from Batalik to Mushkoh Valley. Pilots faced challenges spotting bunkers made from local materials, bomb drift in thin air, and MANPAD threats. A Canberra reconnaissance aircraft was hit by a MANPAD but returned on one engine.

The campaign at such high altitudes was unique, as the IAF had previously trained for strikes in plains and deserts. The army evicted Pakistani irregulars from Dras and Kargil, with the IAF providing close air support. The conflict marked the first use of precision weapons by the Mirage-2000 in Indian service.