Key points
- The interception has gained widespread attention in global defence circles
- SCALP’s neutralisation has put Indian military strategy under scrutiny
- Pakistan’s success is being viewed as a surprising leap in capability
ISLAMABAD: In what defence analysts are calling a pivotal moment in modern military history, Pakistan reportedly intercepted an Indian SCALP cruise missile mid-flight during the recent clashes between May 6 and 10, 2025.
The incident is being seen as a trailer for what experts are dubbing “21st-century warfare.”
The reported interception of the SCALP missile, also known as Storm Shadow, has gained widespread attention in global defence circles. The high-precision, long-range cruise missile—capable of striking targets over 500 kilometres away—is designed for use from advanced fighter jets such as the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon.
Stealthy and expensive
Notably stealthy and expensive, the missile flies at low altitudes to evade radar detection and is typically deployed against strategic targets.
The missile was reportedly launched by India toward Pakistan’s Sargodha Air Base.
However, Pakistan’s defence systems destroyed it in the air on May 7, challenging assumptions about India’s military edge and raising serious questions about the credibility of its high-cost weapons platforms.
India had acquired the SCALP missile from France, becoming the first non-NATO country to do so.
The system was introduced as a strategic deterrent against Pakistan. Its neutralisation mid-air, however, has put Indian military strategy under scrutiny.
Air defence capabilities
Defence experts suggest that Pakistan’s ability to detect and destroy a missile with stealth and low-level flight characteristics like the SCALP indicates a significant upgrade in its air defence capabilities.
The development implies that other Indian missile threats, such as the Indo-Russian BrahMos—one the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles—may no longer pose the formidable challenge they once did.
Until now, it was believed that only a handful of countries, including the United States, Israel, Russia, and China, had the technological sophistication to intercept a missile like SCALP.
Pakistan’s success is being viewed as a surprising leap in capability.
The interception required more than just a missile launcher—it reflects the integration of radar networks, digital tracking, signal intelligence, and electronic warfare systems. Defence analysts say this showcases Pakistan’s evolution beyond conventional military strength into advanced, high-tech defence architecture.
Strategic blow
The incident has dealt a strategic blow to India, not just financially but psychologically. Analysts point to three key implications that it undermines the prestige of India’s most expensive air combat programmes, provides Pakistan with a psychological edge in deterrence and forces India to reassess the effectiveness of its high-cost weapons against Pakistan.
Leading defence publications from the UK, France, and China described the interception as “game-changing.”
For Pakistan, the development is seen as both a technological triumph and a military milestone, reshaping the balance of power in the region and signalling its growing dominance in areas like cyber-electronic warfare, missile defence, and combat intelligence.
As regional dynamics shift, this event stands as a warning for India—and a marker of confidence for Pakistan.
