Source: TOI
Context: In the early hours of May 9, 2025, Pakistan launched a coordinated drone and missile swarm targeting Indian military bases.
- India successfully intercepted the attack using its air defence shield, including S-400 Triumf, Akash, and Barak-8 MRSAM, in what was part of its integrated response under Operation Sindoor.
About Air Defence Systems:
- What is an Air Defence System?
- An Air Defence System refers to a networked combination of sensors, weapons, and command systems designed to detect, track, and neutralize aerial threats such as:
- Missiles (ballistic/cruise)
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs/drones)
- Manned aircraft and helicopters
- Components of Air Defence:
- Surveillance Radars – Detect incoming threats.
- Command & Control Centres – Prioritise and assign response.
- Interceptor Weapons – Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs), guns, or loitering munitions.
- Electronic Warfare (EW) Systems – Jam or spoof drones.
- India’s Multi-Layered Air Defence Framework:
- An Air Defence System refers to a networked combination of sensors, weapons, and command systems designed to detect, track, and neutralize aerial threats such as:
| System | Type & Origin | Range | Role in Operation |
| S-400 Triumf | Long-range Surface-to-Air (Russia) | Up to 400 km | Intercepted long-range missiles and aircraft |
| Barak-8 MRSAM | Medium-range SAM (India-Israel) | ~70-100 km | Neutralized fast-moving drones and cruise missiles |
| Akash | Indigenous SAM (India) | Up to 25-30 km | Countered low-altitude aerial threats |
| S-125 Pechora | Legacy SAM system (Russian origin) | Short-range (35 km) | Supplemented older sectoral defences |
| Integrated Counter-UAS Grid | Multi-layered defence using jamming, spoofing, and guns | Varies | Intercepted UAVs and kamikaze drones across northern airspace |
