India on Thursday successfully thwarted a coordinated drone and missile assault from Pakistan targeting key military zones across northern and western India. The Indian military not only neutralised the incoming threats but also disabled a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore as part of its response.
This attempted escalation followed India’s launch of Operation Sindoor—a mission that targeted terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK). Despite clear warnings from India, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border strikes, which were effectively intercepted.
A statement from India clarified, “On the night of May 7-8, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks.”
S-400 Triumf: India’s Frontline Long-Range Missile Shield
India deployed its Russian-origin S-400 Triumf missile system to intercept and destroy the Pakistani aerial threats. Recognised globally as one of the most advanced surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, the S-400 integrates long-range detection and precise targeting capabilities.
The Triumf, a successor to the S-300 system, is built by Russia’s Almaz-Antey and referred to by NATO as the “SA-21 Growler.” Indian officials have nicknamed it the “Sudarshan Chakra.”
Equipped with radar, command centres, and missile launchers, the S-400 offers 360-degree surveillance and counter-stealth features. It can detect aircraft up to 600 km away and missiles at a range of 250 km. It has an altitude reach of 30 km and uses four types of missiles: 40N6, 48N6DM, 9M96E2, and 9M96E.
Reports indicate that the system can track 80 targets simultaneously and has an 80% kill rate against hostile aircraft. Russia claims it outperforms the US MIM-104 Patriot system. Moreover, it is compatible with other Russian systems like the S-300, Tor, and Pantsir.
India signed a $5 billion agreement with Russia in 2018 to procure five S-400 squadrons. The country received the first squadron in December 2021, the second in April 2022, and the third in 2023. The fourth is expected by the end of this year. One squadron is stationed in Pathankot to guard Jammu and Kashmir, while another protects regions in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Akash Air Defence System: India’s Indigenous Shield in Action
Alongside the S-400, India employed its domestically developed Akash Air Defence System to counter Pakistan’s aggression. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed the Akash system as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
With 96% indigenous components, the Akash system aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It includes launchers, control centres, guidance systems, multifunction radars, and mission support equipment.
Each Akash battery is equipped with four 3D Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) radars and four launchers carrying three interconnected missiles each. The system also features a battery control centre and the Rajendra radar for targeting.
The Akash can engage multiple aerial targets including aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, and helicopter-launched missiles. It has a range of 4.5 to 25 km and operates from mobile platforms like tanks and trucks. Bharat Electronics Limited states it has an altitude reach of 80 km and can function in both autonomous and group modes.
It includes advanced Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) and supports both conventional and nuclear warheads up to 60 kg. Its missiles are also capable of self-destruction in case of missed targets.
DRDO is currently developing an upgraded variant, the Akash (NG). India has begun exporting the Akash system to Armenia, and other nations including the Philippines, Vietnam, Egypt, and Brazil have shown interest in purchasing it.
