In a significant leap in air warfare, the Indian Air Force (IAF) reportedly deployed artificial intelligence-powered technology during a four-day military operation against Pakistan in May 2025. Ryan Bodenheimer, a former US Air Force pilot of F-15E and F-16 jets, called Operation Sindoor a breakthrough in modern aerial combat, according to idrw.org. Central to the operation was the Rafale’s X-Guard, an AI-enabled towed decoy system that played a crucial role in neutralising Pakistani air threats.
AI-Driven X-Guard Proves Crucial to Success
Developed by Rafale Advanced Defence Systems, the X-Guard system employs artificial intelligence to emit a powerful 500-watt, 360-degree jamming signal. Weighing just 30 kilograms, the device is towed behind the aircraft on a 100-meter fibre-optic cable. By mimicking the radar signatures and Doppler effects of an actual Rafale jet, it effectively confuses enemy radar systems and missiles, making it extremely difficult to locate the real aircraft.
Ryan Bodenheimer, a former US Air Force pilot of F-15E and F-16 jets, described the X-Guard as “the best spoofing and deception we’ve ever seen.” He further stated that the system could potentially “redefine the rules of electronic warfare.”
According to a report by IDRW, Pakistan’s Chinese-made PL-15E air-to-air missiles and J-10C fighter jets failed to detect or target the real Indian aircraft effectively. The X-Guard decoy system disrupted enemy radar and misled missile guidance systems. The PL-15E missile, an export variant of China’s PL-15, lacked advanced countermeasures against spoofing. Additionally, the X-Guard likely deceived the KLJ-7A AESA radar on Pakistan’s J-10C fighters into believing they had locked onto and successfully hit Rafale jets.
Decoy Demonstrates Reusability, Speed, and Reliability
The X-Guard operates more quickly than older US systems such as the AN/ALQ-50 or ADM-160 MALD, capable of being deployed in under two seconds and retrieved for reuse. Business Today, referencing Jane’s Defence Weekly, reported that some Pakistani claims of shooting down Indian Rafales may have actually targeted these decoys.
The system functions as a “decoy wingman,” drawing enemy fire away from the real aircraft. A fiber-optic connection between the pilot and the decoy provides real-time updates on missile threats and system status, remaining unaffected by enemy jamming attempts.
A New Era in Air Warfare
Operation Sindoor demonstrated the transformative impact of AI-powered technology on modern aerial combat. By employing systems like the X-Guard, the Indian Air Force successfully minimised detectability while maintaining full control and operational effectiveness. The operation underscored that future air superiority may rely more on electronic deception than direct physical confrontation.
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