Description

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Context

India’s strike appears to be a tit-for-tat retaliation for Pakistan’s attempt to target military installations in Northern and Western India. India claims its own Integrated Air Defence System successfully intercepted drones and missiles and followed up with Offensive Counter-Air operations.

Why Air Defence Matters

Air defence systems are critical components of a nation’s military that detect, track and intercept aerial threats such as fighter aircraft, drones, missiles and helicopters.

In modern warfare, air superiority—the ability to control the skies—is essential for success.

Core Functions of an Air Defence System

Air defence involves three interconnected stages, coordinated via C3 systems (Command, Control, Communication):

Stage	Function
Detection	Use of radars and satellites to identify aerial threats at long distances.
Tracking	Constant monitoring of the threat's speed, path, and identity.
Interception	Deployment of weapons to destroy or disable the aerial threat.

Components of Air Defence Systems

Radar and Detection Systems

Radar transmits radio waves that bounce off aerial objects.

Returns are analysed to determine:

Distance

Speed

Direction

Type of object (missile, aircraft, drone)

Satellites help in high-altitude or long-range detection (e.g., ICBMs).

Tracking Systems

Use infrared sensors, laser rangefinders and advanced radar arrays.

Crucial in crowded skies to distinguish between friend and foe.

Must maintain high accuracy to avoid false engagements.

Interception Systems

Actual destruction or disabling of aerial threats.

Interception options depend on range, speed, and nature of the threat.

Methods of Interception

System	Role and Examples
Fighter Aircraft (Interceptors)	Quick-response aircraft like MiG-21 Bison, Rafale, Tejas used for air-to-air combat.
Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs)	Backbone of modern ADS. Includes Akash (India), Barak (India-Israel), S-400 (Russia).
Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)	Rapid-fire ground guns; used for low-altitude threats or as last-ditch defence.
Electronic Warfare (EW)	Jamming and disrupting enemy radar, drones or missile guidance (e.g., radar jammers, decoys).

Classification of SAMs

Category	Function	Example
Long-range	Destroy threats hundreds of km away	S-400, Barak ER
Medium-range	50–100 km range, quick deployment	Akash, Barak-8
Short-range	Immediate proximity defence, often man-portable (MANPADS)	Igla (Russia), Very Short Range Systems

India’s Air Defence Arsenal

System	Type	Origin	Function
Akash	Medium-range SAM	Indigenous	Mobile air defence, up to 25 km
Barak-8	Medium-to-long range	India-Israel	Naval and land-based interception
S-400	Long-range SAM	Russia	Can intercept aircraft/missiles up to 400 km
Igla-S	MANPADS	Russia	Shoulder-fired SAM for low-altitude threats

Electronic Warfare in Air Defence

Doesn’t require physical destruction.

Jams or deceives enemy radars, missiles and drones.

Protects key installations and supports offensive air operations.

Counter-Air Operations: Neutralising Enemy AD Systems

SEAD – Suppression of Enemy Air Defences

India’s recent strikes in Lahore and elsewhere fall under this doctrine.

SEAD operations use:

Missiles e.g., HAROP loitering munitions

Drones

EW systems

Precision airstrikes

Purpose: Disable enemy radars and missile systems to allow safe access for follow-up aerial missions.

What does it mean to neutralise an air defence system?

To neutralise an air defence system means to render it ineffective—either by:

Physically destroying its key components (like radar stations, missile launchers, or command centres),

Jamming or blinding its sensors and radars using electronic warfare,

Or cyberattacks that disrupt the functioning of its targeting and detection capabilities.

This action reduces or eliminates the enemy’s ability to detect, track, and shoot down incoming aircraft, missiles, or drones.

Active vs Passive vs Offensive Defence

Type	Description	Example
Active Defence (A-DCA)	Shoot down enemy threats with radars and SAMs	India intercepting Pakistani drones
Passive Defence (P-DCA)	Minimise damage: bunkers, camouflage, redundancy	Fortified military bunkers or underground command centres
Offensive Counter Air (OCA)	Destroy enemy’s ability to strike	India destroying Lahore’s air defence system

Sources:

INDIANEXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Discuss the strategic significance of neutralising air defence systems in modern warfare. How do such actions fit into the broader framework of India’s counter-air and deterrence strategies? 250 Words.