NEW DELHI: India's multi-layered air defence system, with a mix of Russian and Israeli surface-to-air missile systems and the indigenous Akash, is considered much better than Pakistan, which largely relies on Chinese systems.
India's air defence weapons range from the formidable Russian-origin S-400 'Triumf' surface-to-air missile system, which can detect and destroy hostile strategic bombers, jets, spy planes, missiles and drones at a range of 380km, to the shoulder-fired Igla-S missiles that have an interception range of 6km.
Chinese-supplied HQ-9 air defence missile batteries and radars, which have a range of 120km in the base variant that extends to 300km in the latest one, in turn, are the mainstay of Pakistan. It also has the French-origin Spada anti-aircraft system with a 20-25km range for defence of airbases and other important facilities, among other systems.
"The S-400, which has four kinds of missiles to intercept targets at ranges of 120, 200, 250 and 380km, by far outclasses the HQ-9. It is crucial to our air defence coverage and is fully plugged into IAF's integrated air command and control system (IACCS)," an officer said.
Under the $5.4 billion(Rs 40,000 crore) contract inked with Russia in 2018, IAF has deployed the first three S-400 squadrons in north-west and east India to cater to both China and Pakistan.
The S-400 radars - the primary acquisition one has a 600km range - can track hundreds of targets simultaneously. Delivery of the remaining two S-400 squadrons, however, has been hugely delayed to 2026-27 due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The fully-automated IACCS network , which combines a wide array of sensors and weapons, is now progressively also integrating military radars with civilian ones. "With the new Akashteer system, data from IAF and Army radars are fused to provide a unified, real-time air picture, which is available to all IAF and Army air defence centres," another officer said.
India is also developing its own long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) system under the ambitious Project Kusha . With an interception range of around 350km, this air defence system should be ready by 2028-29,as reported by TOI earlier.
Army, Navy and Air Force have all inducted the potent Barak-8 medium range surface-to-air missile (MR-SAM) systems, with an over 70km range, jointly developed with Israel. Army and IAF have also inducted in large numbers the indigenous Akash air defence missile systems, with an interception range of 25km, which is now also being exported to other countries.
Armed forces also have a variety of shorter range air defence weapons. They include the older Russian Igla-1M (5km), OSA-AK-M (10km) and Pechora missiles and upgraded L-70 anti-aircraft guns (3.5km). The newer ones are Israeli low-level Spyder quick-reaction anti-aircraft missiles (15km range) and Russian man-portable Igla-S (6km) systems. DRDO is also testing the indigenous very short-range air defence system (VSHORADS) missiles, which have a range of up to 6km.
India's air defence weapons range from the formidable Russian-origin S-400 'Triumf' surface-to-air missile system, which can detect and destroy hostile strategic bombers, jets, spy planes, missiles and drones at a range of 380km, to the shoulder-fired Igla-S missiles that have an interception range of 6km.
Chinese-supplied HQ-9 air defence missile batteries and radars, which have a range of 120km in the base variant that extends to 300km in the latest one, in turn, are the mainstay of Pakistan. It also has the French-origin Spada anti-aircraft system with a 20-25km range for defence of airbases and other important facilities, among other systems.
"The S-400, which has four kinds of missiles to intercept targets at ranges of 120, 200, 250 and 380km, by far outclasses the HQ-9. It is crucial to our air defence coverage and is fully plugged into IAF's integrated air command and control system (IACCS)," an officer said.
Under the $5.4 billion(Rs 40,000 crore) contract inked with Russia in 2018, IAF has deployed the first three S-400 squadrons in north-west and east India to cater to both China and Pakistan.
The S-400 radars - the primary acquisition one has a 600km range - can track hundreds of targets simultaneously. Delivery of the remaining two S-400 squadrons, however, has been hugely delayed to 2026-27 due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The fully-automated IACCS network , which combines a wide array of sensors and weapons, is now progressively also integrating military radars with civilian ones. "With the new Akashteer system, data from IAF and Army radars are fused to provide a unified, real-time air picture, which is available to all IAF and Army air defence centres," another officer said.
India is also developing its own long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) system under the ambitious Project Kusha . With an interception range of around 350km, this air defence system should be ready by 2028-29,as reported by TOI earlier.
Army, Navy and Air Force have all inducted the potent Barak-8 medium range surface-to-air missile (MR-SAM) systems, with an over 70km range, jointly developed with Israel. Army and IAF have also inducted in large numbers the indigenous Akash air defence missile systems, with an interception range of 25km, which is now also being exported to other countries.
Armed forces also have a variety of shorter range air defence weapons. They include the older Russian Igla-1M (5km), OSA-AK-M (10km) and Pechora missiles and upgraded L-70 anti-aircraft guns (3.5km). The newer ones are Israeli low-level Spyder quick-reaction anti-aircraft missiles (15km range) and Russian man-portable Igla-S (6km) systems. DRDO is also testing the indigenous very short-range air defence system (VSHORADS) missiles, which have a range of up to 6km.
You may also like
IPL 2025 faces uncertainty amid rising Indo-Pak conflict
Monstrous abuser who victimised kids dies unaware that he was serving time
Annual blood test for cancer could stop half of cases reaching advanced stage
Former PM Devegowda hails India's "mature and restrained" military response to Pahalgam attack amid escalation
Tanot Mata Temple: There is such a mysterious temple on the India-Pakistan border, where the bombs dropped during the war did not blast..
