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India Targets Pakistani Air Defence Systems
Context:
In a significant escalation of hostilities, India responded to overnight Pakistani attacks on multiple Indian targets by launching a counteroffensive early Thursday (8 May). The Indian Army confirmed that air defence systems in several Pakistani locations were targeted, with a major system in Lahore reportedly neutralised.
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- This operation underscores the critical importance of controlling the skies in modern warfare. Air superiority not only allows freedom of movement for air assets but also protects vital ground operations and infrastructure.
- Consequently, air defence systems (ADS) form the backbone of a nation’s ability to withstand aerial attacks.
What Are Air Defence Systems and Why They Matter?
- Air defence systems are designed to detect, track, and intercept aerial threats, which may include enemy fighter aircraft, missiles, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
- Their role is defensive but essential — they act as a shield, ensuring enemy aircraft do not penetrate airspace with impunity.
- During the Pakistani attacks on 7 May 2025 night, India’s operational air defences played a vital role in preventing any damage, showcasing their effectiveness. On the other hand, neutralising the enemy’s air defences exposes their territory to subsequent air operations.
How Air Defence Systems Work?
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- Air defence systems are composed of radars, control centres, defensive fighter aircraft, ground-based missile systems, artillery, and electronic warfare (EW) platforms. These systems operate in three coordinated phases:
- Detection: The first layer of defence involves identifying incoming aerial threats.
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- Radar is the primary detection tool, though satellites can also play a role (especially against threats like ICBMs).
- Radars transmit electromagnetic waves; when these hit an object like an enemy aircraft, the reflected waves are received and analyzed to determine distance, speed, and threat type.
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- Tracking: Detection must be followed by continuous tracking using radar, infrared cameras, and laser rangefinders.
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- Modern air defence systems often deal with multiple, fast-moving threats, and must accurately distinguish friend from foe to avoid fratricide.
- Precision in tracking is crucial for successful interception.
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- Interception: Once tracked, threats are neutralised using an appropriate platform or system.
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- Decisions on how to intercept depend on type, range, and speed of the threat.
- This integration is managed through what militaries call the C3 system: Command, Control, and Communication.
Weapons Used in Air Defence
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- A diverse range of weapon systems are employed to counter aerial threats:
- Fighter Aircraft: Intercepting enemy aircraft is one of the most direct and effective means of defence. Interceptors like the MiG-21, Sukhoi Su-35, MiG-29, HAL Tejas, and Dassault Rafale are capable of high-speed engagements and are equipped with air-to-air missiles, cannons, and electronic countermeasures.
- Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs): SAMs form the backbone of modern AD systems. They offer high effectiveness with no risk to pilots. Guidance systems include radar, infrared, and laser, and they can be deployed from both ground-based platforms and naval vessels.
- SAM Classes:
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- Long-range systems (e.g., Russia’s S-400, used by India): Capable of engaging threats hundreds of kilometres away.
- Medium-range systems: More mobile, suitable for quick deployment in tactical scenarios.
- MANPADS: Portable, short-range systems designed to target low-altitude threats like helicopters and drones.
- India’s SAM arsenal includes:
- Akash missiles (medium range, Indigenous),
- Barak missiles (medium-to-long range),
- S-400 Triumf (long-range, strategic).
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- Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA): While largely supplanted by SAMs, AAA systems still serve as last-resort defences and are highly effective against low-flying threats. AAA systems fire explosive shells that detonate at preset altitudes, creating a shrapnel cloud to damage or destroy aerial targets.
- Electronic Warfare (EW): EW systems play a pivotal role by disrupting or deceiving enemy radar and targeting systems. Instead of kinetic interception, these systems jam signals or mislead incoming threats using electromagnetic interference.
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- Such systems can be deployed on land or airborne platforms, such as the EA-18G Growler—a U.S. Navy aircraft specialized for EW missions.
Neutralising Enemy Air Defences: Gaining Air Superiority
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- To achieve air superiority, it is essential to take down enemy air defences. This is done through the Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) operations.
- SEAD Tactics Include:
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- Launching missiles and bombing raids
- Deploying UAVs for surveillance or attack
- Using electronic warfare to blind or confuse systems
- Conducting ground raids on radar stations or missile sites
- SEAD missions are a staple of modern air campaigns. A 2005 analysis (Christopher Bolkcom’s ‘Military Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD): Assessing Future Needs’) revealed that one-fourth of all U.S. combat sorties in recent conflicts were SEAD operations.
- Neutralising ADS not only ensures air dominance but also paves the way for deep strikes, paratroop deployment, and supply missions inside enemy territory.
