India Uses Red Teaming in Operation Sindoor Planning

 Operation Sindoor, India’s recent military strike on terror targets in Pakistan, was the first operation to incorporate the concept of “red teaming” into its planning framework. Red teaming involves inserting a small team of experts who understand the adversary’s mindset and tactics to rigorously challenge and test the planned strategy by simulating enemy reactions. This marked a significant evolution in India’s strategic approach, adding a more adaptive and anticipatory dimension to its cross-border military operations.

Sources reveal the red team assigned to Operation Sindoor consisted of five senior officers from various Indian Army commands nationwide. While red teaming has been a long-established method internationally, especially during the Cold War to predict Soviet moves, it is a relatively new practice within the Indian Army. The term originates from war gaming exercises where the “red team” represents the opponent, challenging the “blue team” defenders.

In India, the concept has been called ‘Vidur Vakta,’ inspired by the wise advisor Vidura from the Mahabharata. Discussions around adopting this approach began some time ago, followed by trials at different command levels to refine the method based on operational learnings. The idea officially gained momentum after the October 2024 Army Commanders’ Conference, where 15 officers were trained in red teaming techniques.

A structured plan is underway to expand the ‘Vidur Vakta’ programme over the next two years to build domestic expertise and reduce reliance on foreign trainers. This builds upon earlier efforts in 2024 to establish a dedicated Opposing Force (OPFOR) unit for realistic adversary simulations, akin to practices in militaries like the US.

Currently, the Indian Army’s training command, ARTRAC, based in Shimla, maintains a REDFOR unit tasked with overseeing war gaming exercises and setting guidelines for these simulations. The use of red teaming in Operation Sindoor reflects India’s growing focus on sophisticated, anticipatory defense strategies.