New India: India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), successfully destroying nine terrorist camps and eliminating over 100 terrorists.
All three branches of the Indian Armed Forces-the Army, Navy, and Air Force-played a crucial role in the operation. In this article, we will be discussing about the India’s air defense system and its role in the success of Operation Sindoor, serving as vital assets in safeguarding the nation against aerial threats such as enemy aircraft, drones, and missiles. The government confirmed that Pakistani drones and missiles violated Indian airspace during the intervening night of May 8 and 9.
In response, India activated its air defence network, including S-400 Triumph systems, Barak-8 and Akash missiles, and DRDO’s anti-drone technologies, to neutralise the threats by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
S-400 Triumph (Russia)
- The S-400 Triumph is developed by Russia and is highly advanced air defense missile system with a range of up to 400 kilometers and altitude coverage between 30 to 56 kilometers.
- Its interceptors can reach speeds of up to Mach 14, enabling rapid response to aerial threats.
- S-400 has the ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously-up to 36 at once-including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
- The system is known for its high mobility and integrated radar capabilities, making it a formidable component of any nation’s air defense strategy.
- It has been deployed by several countries, including Russia, India, China, and Turkey.
THAAD – Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (USA)
- The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system
- The system is developed by the United States and designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitudes using hit-to-kill kinetic energy technology.
- THAAD has an approximate range of 200 kilometers and altitude interception capability of up to 150 kilometers
- THAAD provides robust protection against missile threats during their terminal phase.
- Its interceptors travel at speeds exceeding Mach 8, allowing for quick and precise neutralization of incoming targets.
- THAAD is optimized for exo-atmospheric interception and is integrated to work seamlessly with other defense systems like Aegis and Patriot.
- It has been deployed by the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea.
David’s Sling (Israel/USA)
- David’s Sling is commonly known as the Magic Wand
- David’s Sling is a medium- to long-range missile defense system jointly developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the U.S.-based Raytheon Technologies.
- David’s Sling is operational since 2017
- David’s Sling serves as a critical component of Israel’s multi-layered air defense architecture, bridging the gap between the short-range Iron Dome and the long-range Arrow systems.
- The system is designed to intercept a variety of aerial threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, and enemy aircraft.
- Its primary interceptor, the Stunner missile, is a two-stage missile equipped with a multi-pulse solid-fuel propulsion system, enabling it to reach speeds up to Mach 7.5.
- The Stunner utilizes dual electro-optical and radar seekers.
Patriot PAC-3 (USA)
- The Patriot missile defense system, primarily developed by the United States, has a range of up to 160-170 kilometers
- It can engage targets at altitudes of up to 24 kilometers.
- Its interceptor missiles reach speeds around Mach 5, allowing for rapid engagement of aerial threats.
- This all-weather, all-altitude system has been combat-tested in multiple conflicts, including the Iraq War, Gulf War, and the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
- Capable of neutralizing aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles, the Patriot system is a cornerstone of modern air defense. It has been widely exported and is currently in use by over 17 countries around the world.
S-300VM / Antey-2500 (Russia)
The S-300VM, also known as the Antey-2500, is a Russian long-range air and missile defense system engineered to counter a wide array of aerial threats. With a striking range of up to 250 kilometers and the ability to engage targets at altitudes reaching 30 kilometers, it is designed for high-performance interception. Its missiles can travel at speeds over Mach 7, allowing rapid response to fast-moving threats. The system can simultaneously track and engage multiple targets, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and especially short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Renowned for its power and adaptability, the S-300VM is used by Russia and has been exported to countries like Venezuela and Egypt.