After Sindoor Attack On Pakistan, How Equipped Is India’s Defence? Explained

Amid talks of Pakistani retaliation after Operation Sindoor, India has activated S-400. A look at India’s defence systems and missiles

reset

Follow us on Flipboard

Follow us on Google News

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (second from left), talks to three Indian defence chiefs and Chief of Defence Staff on May 5. (AP)

Indian has activated the S-400 air defence missile system after its Operation Sindoor against Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

The S-400 system is considered the most powerful weapon in the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet, which is capable of thwarting any possible air attack.

Operation Sindoor targeted nine terror sites in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Sialkot, Barnala and Bahawalpur. These facilities trained terrorists and were also instrumental in the infiltration of Lashkar, Hizbul and JeM terrorists into India.

ALSO READ | Operation Sindoor Against Pakistan Was Not Balakot 2.0: The Pahalgam Retaliation Was Bigger & Better

The armed forces use advanced weapons such as the SCALP cruise missile, HAMMER precision bomb and loitering munitions. The SCALP missile, known as Storm Shadow, is a long-ranged cruise missile with a range more than 250 km. The Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) smart bomb, a standoff munition capable of hitting targets over a range of 70 kilometres, was used to strike the infrastructure, such as bunkers and buildings that were used as training camps by Lashkar and Jaish. The loitering munitions used for surveillance and target acquisition are known for hovering over targets and eliminating targets using remote control or autonomously.

Amid talks of Pakistani retaliation, let’s look at India’s defence systems and missiles, starting with S-400, which is in effect:

S-400 TRIUMF: THE SYSTEM INDIA HAS ACTIVATED

The S-400 Triumf is one of the most advanced and formidable air defence systems in the world. Manufactured by Russia’s Almaz-Antey, the long-range, multi-layered air and missile defence holds the NATO designation of SA-21 Growler. Its ability to shoot down multiple threats at long ranges acts as a major deterrent. It can defend against a variety of threats including stealth aircraft and hypersonic missiles.

Features

• RANGE: Up to 400 km (against aircraft); 60–250 km for other missile types
• ALTITUDE COVERAGE: Up to 30 km
• TARGET TYPES: Aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles
• SIMULTANEOUS TARGETS: Can engage up to 80 targets simultaneously using multiple radars
• MISSILE TYPES: Uses 4 types (40N6, 48N6DM, 9M96E2, 9M96E) to engage different threats
• RADAR SYSTEM: Phased-array radar with 600+ km detection range
• INDIA’S ACQUISITION: The contact was signed in October 2018, and the first regiment delivered in late 2021. The second and third regiments were delivered by mid-2023.
• DEPLOYMENT: Regiments are deployed in regions such as Punjab, western Rajasthan, and the north-east.

BIG PICTURE: DEFENCE SYSTEMS

Broadly, India’s air defence is equipped for different levels of interception:

• Long range: Ballistic Missile Defence Programme
• Intermediate: S-400 Triumph
• Short Range: Akash Air Defense System and Similar Systems
• Very Short-range: MANPADS and Anti- Aircraft Guns.

TYPES OF MISSILES

India has seven types of missiles:

1. Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM)
2. Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM)
3. Surface-to-Surface Missiles
4. Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) / Interceptor Missiles
5. Cruise Missiles
6. Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles
7. Anti-Tank Missiles

A look at the defence systems:

1. MISSILE DEFENCE SYSTEM

It includes Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD), S-400 Triumf and Barak-8.

• The Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system was developed by DRDO to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in two phases: Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) for high-altitude interception and Advanced Air Defence (AAD) for lower-altitude interception.
• S-400 Triumf from Russia is a long-range air defence system (details above).
• Barak-8: Was jointly developed by Israel and India. It is used by the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force for medium- to long-range air defence.

2. SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE (SAM) SYSTEMS

It includes:

• Akash SAM – Indigenous medium-range SAM for defending against aircraft and UAVs (range ~25–30 km).
• QRSAM (Quick Reaction SAM): Designed for the Indian Army to protect moving armored columns.
• VL-SRSAM (Vertical Launch Short Range SAM) – Naval air defense missile.

3. STRATEGIC MISSILE SYSTEMS

It includes the nuclear triad of:

• Land-Based Missiles: It includes the Agni series (I to V) — surface-to-surface ballistic missiles with ranges from 700 km (Agni-I) to over 5,000 km (Agni-V). It also includes the Prithvi series – short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) for tactical roles.
• Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs): It includes K-15 (Sagarika), K-4 and BrahMos-A – Supersonic cruise missile variant for aircraft like the Su-30MKI.

4. ANTI-SATELLITE (ASAT) WEAPON

The Mission Shakti in 2019 showed India’s capability to shoot down a live satellite in low Earth orbit (~300 km), becoming the 4th country to do so.

5. INDIGENOUS COMBAT PLATFORMS

• Tejas (LCA) – Light Combat Aircraft developed by HAL.
• Arjun MBT – Main Battle Tank.
• INS Vikrant – India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier.
• DRDO-developed UAVs – like Rustom, Netra, etc.

6. INTEGRATED AIR COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM (IACCS)

A centralised network integrating radar, SAMs, and fighter aircraft for pan-India air defense coverage.

7. CYBER AND ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEMS

• Specialised agencies and units like the Defence Cyber Agency (DCA).
• Indigenous radar and jamming systems developed by DRDO.

top videos

View all

Swipe Left For Next Video

View all

8. DRONE AND COUNTER-DRONE SYSTEMS

India has deployed systems such as SWARM drones, anti-drone jammers, and laser-based systems. DRDO has developed D-4 counter-drone system.

Location :
New Delhi, India, India

First Published:
May 08, 2025, 13:12 IST