In May 2025, the tension between India and Pakistan reached its peak when Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks on 15 military bases in Northern and Western regions of India during the night of May 7-8. Responding to these strikes, the Indian Air Force's Integrated Air Defence System not only thwarted these attacks successfully.
It also devastated Pakistan's air defense systems. The system displayed its capabilities by dismantling the Pakistani offensive and sent a formidable message by demolishing their air defense framework in Lahore.
Scenario of the Pakistani Attack
On the night of May 7-8, 2025, Pakistan targeted India's key military bases, including Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, Avantipur, and Bhuj.
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Source: aajtak
The assault utilized drones, missiles, and potentially fighter jets such as F-16 and JF-17. This was in retaliation to India's Operation Sindhur, where precise missile strikes targeted nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7.
Pakistan's intention was to damage India's military infrastructure and foster heightened tension in the region. However, India's Integrated Air Defence System completely nullified this attack, ensuring no major loss for India. In retaliation, India obliterated the Pakistani air defense system in Lahore, delivering a severe blow to Pakistan.
Structure of the Integrated Air Defence System
India's Integrated Air Defence System is a multi-layered state-of-the-art framework, incorporating systems with varied ranges and capabilities. It operates through an Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), connecting radars, sensors, and weapon systems through a digital network (AFNET). This system guarantees real-time threat identification, tracking, and neutralization...
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S-400 (Sudharsan Chakra)
Range: Up to 400 km
Features: This Russian-acquired system can destroy stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and ballistic missiles, tracking targets up to 600 km away.
Deployed: In Pathankot, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
Barak-8 (MR-SAM)
Range: 70-100 km
Features: Jointly developed by India and Israel, this medium-range missile system destroys cruise missiles, drones, and fighter jets.
Akash Missile System
Range: 25-70 km (Akash-NG)
Features: Developed by DRDO, this indigenous system efficiently destroys low-altitude flying drones and missiles.
SPYDER
Range: 8-10 km
Features: Acquired from Israel, this short-range system swiftly responds to drones and precision-guided munitions.
ZSU-23-2 and Other Short-Range Systems
Range: 2-3 km
Features: These age-old yet effective systems destroy short-range drones and other threats.
Integrated Counter-UAS Grid (C-UAS)
Features:
Utilizes radars, jammers, and directed-energy weapons to track and destroy drones and loitering munitions.
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Role of the System During the Pakistani Attack
During the Pakistani attack, the Indian Air Defence System established its effectiveness. Its primary roles were as follows...
Real-Time Threat Detection
The IACCS integrated radar and sensor data via a high-speed optic fiber network, promptly tracking the movements of Pakistani drones, missiles, and aircraft. Radars in regions like Jammu, Srinagar, and Pathankot identified threats over an airspace of 1,800 km.
Multi-Layer Interception:
S-400 Sudharsan Chakra: Destroyed long-range incoming missiles and potentially Pakistani F-16 and JF-17 jets. An F-16 departing from Sargodha Airbase was downed by an Indian surface-to-air missile.
Akash and Barak-8: These medium-range systems demolished low-altitude drones and cruise missiles. Akash-NG achieved a 100% interception rate against swarms of drones.
ZSU-23-2: These terminal defense guns eliminated drones that managed to breach outer layers.
C-UAS Grid: Neutralized drones using jammers and directed-energy weapons.
No Damage Sustained
The Indian Ministry of Defense confirmed zero damage from the Pakistani attack. All targets, including military bases in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, remained secure.
Counteraction
On the morning of May 8, Indian armed forces targeted numerous air defense radars and systems in Pakistan. A major air defense system in Lahore was decimated by Israeli Harpy drones and potentially S-400 missiles. The attack was so precise that panic spread through Lahore's cantonment area. Flights at local airports were suspended.
Operation Sindhur and the Role of the System
Operation Sindhur, initiated on May 7, was India's retaliatory strike on Pakistan's terrorist bases. After this operation, Pakistan attempted to elevate tensions by attacking military bases. However, the Indian Air Defence System's readiness created havoc in the following ways...
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Thwarting Pakistani Strategy:
Pakistan attempted to surprise India using swarms of drones and missiles, but the IACCS's real-time tracking made it impossible. Over 25 Pakistani drones and missiles were destroyed, with debris collected from regions like Jammu and Bhuj.
Destruction of Air Defense System in Lahore:
In the Indian counterattack, Israeli Harpy drones, designed to demolish high-value targets, eradicated Pakistani radars and air defense systems in Lahore. This attack was a significant blow to Pakistan's air defense capabilities, as Lahore serves as a crucial military hub.
Psychological Impact:
Following the attack in Lahore, panic spread among locals. Viral videos depicted people on the streets in fear. Pakistani Army spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sherif Chaudhary claimed that they shot down 25 Indian drones, but Indian sources refuted this, asserting significant damage to Pakistan.
Technical and Strategic Superiority
Several factors contributed to the success of the Indian Air Defence System...
Integration and Coordination:
IACCS integrated various systems like S-400, Akash, and Barak-8 to ensure a swift response. This network-centric approach places India in a technical advantage over Pakistan, whose air defense system (HQ-9 and Spada) lacks integration.
Blend of Indigenous and Imported Systems:
Indigenous systems like Akash and AkashTir demonstrated DRDO's technological prowess. Imported systems like S-400 and SPYDER provided India with the capability to tackle multi-dimensional threats.
Strategic Restraint
India limited its retaliation to 'the same domain and same intensity,' avoiding a broader conflict. The Ministry of Defense made it clear that India would adopt a non-escalatory stance, provided Pakistan respects this.
India's Superiority Over Pakistan
Pakistan's air defense system, primarily relying on Chinese HQ-9 (125 km range) and French Spada (20-25 km range), is less effective compared to India's integrated system. India's S-400, with a range of 400 km and multi-target tracking capability, is far more advanced than HQ-9. Moreover, India's C-UAS grid proved highly effective against drone attacks, while Pakistan's system was vulnerable to such swarm attacks.
