If India were to face an assault akin to Israel, could Indian military's air defense systems shield people from enemy missiles and drone strikes? Let's explore the array of air defense systems India possesses and how they function, along with their range capabilities.
India boasts multiple air defense systems operative at various levels.
First,
Long-range interception, a.k.a Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program.
Second,
Intermediate interception, namely the S-400 Triumph air defense system.
Third,
Short-range interception such as the Akash air defense system and others of its kind.
Fourth,
Very short-range interception that includes man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) and anti-aircraft guns.
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Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program
This program has defense systems to counter various ranges of ballistic missiles. It involves two layers of interceptor missiles - the Prithvi Air Defense (PAD), capable of ascending to great heights to eliminate enemy targets. Its other component, the Advanced Air Defense (AAD), is designed for taking down lower altitude threats.
Source: aajtak
These missile systems can neutralize aerial threats from over 5,000 kilometers away, ensuring India's protection against ballistic missiles from Pakistan and China. The PAD system's range spans between 300 to 2,000 kilometers, reaching altitudes of 80 kilometers. The missiles travel at speeds of up to 6174 km/h, including all missiles within the Prithvi series.
The AAD, talking of Advanced Air Defense, destroys targets up to 30 kilometers in the atmosphere with an operational range of 150 to 200 kilometers, racing towards the enemy at 5556 km/h.
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Intermediate interception, the S-400 air defense system
The S-400 can launch 72 missiles simultaneously and is easily movable, mountable on an 8X8 truck. It operates from temperatures of minus 50 to minus 70 degrees Celsius, making it challenging for the enemy to destroy since it doesn't have a fixed location and hence is hard to detect.
Source: aajtak
The S-400 missile system encompasses four types of missiles with ranges of 40, 100, 200, and 400 kilometers, effectively identifying and annihilating targets from 100 to 40,000 feet. Its radar is exceptionally advanced and powerful, tracking about 300 targets within a 600 km range, adept at dealing with missile, aircraft, or drone attacks.
