The IAF was about to launch Crystal Maze missiles on Balakot, which would have provided a live video feed. But it couldn’t fire them due to protocol

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force could not fire any of the intended six Israeli air-to-surface missiles called the Crystal Maze from the Mirage-2000 during the Balakot air strikes against Pakistan because its laid down protocols did not allow it in that particular situation.

After an internal investigation into the whole incident, the IAF is now likely to change its firing procedures for use of Crystal Maze so that such difficulties do not arise in future Balakot-style surgical operations.

If the Crystal Maze missiles had been launched along with the SPICE-2000 bombs, they would’ve provided a live video feed of the bombs hitting their targets.

But they could not be launched from the six Mirage-2000 aircraft that had crossed about 15-20 km inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on 26 February due to protocol.

There are different firing procedures depending on the mission and weather conditions and a host of other parameters. The laid down procedures did not allow the firing of Crystal Maze in that particular situation, sources in the defence establishment told ThePrint.

“Hence, missile and bomb firing procedures are being changed, which will enable the pilots to launch them in future Balakot-type operations or otherwise,” a source said.

The non-availability of a clear video of the strike came as a setback as satellite images of the Jaish camp released a day after the strikes appear to show intact structures without any exterior damage.

“No doubt that a video would have helped. But the message sent across to the Pakistani deep state was loud and clear. Even if they deny, they and we know what really happened and the extent of the damage the SPICE-2000 caused that night,” another source in the defence establishment said.

What The SPICE-2000s Struck

The first source pointed out two things to support the Indian establishment’s claim that the bombs hit their targets — that the Pakistani military opened up the Balakot camp to journalists and others only after weeks, but not the building which was struck, and the continued closure of Pakistani air space. These “clearly show” that the message was delivered loud and clear, the source added.

There were six structures at the attack site, including a large mosque, but the IAF was tasked with targeting three — a two-storey building that housed most of the cadres, including suicide bombers in training, was the primary target, and was hit by three bombs, multiple sources said.

The three SPICE-2000s that hit this building came with timers — configured on the basis of the structure’s make and the material used — that enabled them to go off only after reaching the ground floor.

The other two buildings hit were a guesthouse and a single-storey building believed to house new recruits.

Satellite images in possession of the government, and seen by ThePrint, show that the SPICE-2000 bombs did drop on at least two targets.

The images show small black holes in the roofs of two of the buildings which appear to be the entry points of the bombs. SPICE-2000s are meant to take out heavily-fortified command and control centres, even if they’re underground.