Operation Safed Sagar: How IAF overcame altitude challenges to turn Kargil tide

The Indian Air Force launched Operation Safed Sagar to counter Pakistani intruders who had occupied high-altitude positions during the Kargil conflict. IAF pilots faced extraordinary challenges conducting combat missions at altitudes around 18,000 feet, conditions unprecedented in modern aerial warfare. Initial setbacks forced commanders to reassess tactics and adapt their technology to the extreme environment. The deployment of Mirage-2000 jets equipped with laser-guided bombs proved to be a decisive turning point in the air campaign. These precision air strikes provided critical support to Indian ground forces, helping them successfully recapture key strategic peaks.