‘India Demonstrated Evolving Nature Of Modern Air Defense': John W Spencer Of Modern War Institute
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India has shown in the confrontation with Pakistan that effective penetration is possible through a mix of electronic warfare, kinetic strikes, and doctrinal agility, he said
John W Spencer, a retired United States Army officer, researcher of urban warfare, and author, has lauded India's air defence while commenting on this month's military confrontation with Pakistan.
Spencer serves as the chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute.
'In recent weeks, India has demonstrated the evolving nature of modern air defense—not only in defending its own airspace with a robust, layered architecture, but also in successfully penetrating the Chinese-made systems fielded by its adversary, Pakistan. It's a reminder that defense is not about what you buy—it's about what you integrate," he has written in a Substack post.
During his military career, Spencer was an infantry platoon leader and company commander, including two combat tours during the Iraq War. In Iraq, he served during the initial invasion in 2003 and later in 2008 during the Iraq War troop surge and the Battle of Sadr City. He was also assigned to Ranger School, Joint Chiefs of Staff, etc. Later, he became a fellow with the chief of staff of the Strategic Studies Group, until he moved to Modern War Institute (MWI).
'India's air defense network today features a mix of indigenously produced platforms like the Akash and QRSAM, paired with Israeli Barak-8 systems and the Russian-made S-400. These layers—long, medium, and short-range—are designed to function together in a seamless, multi-tiered web of protection," he wrote. 'Across the border, Pakistan fields primarily Chinese-built systems like the HQ-9/P (a long-range SAM akin to the S-300), LY-80, and FM-90. These systems are capable on paper, but as India has shown, effective penetration is possible through a mix of electronic warfare, kinetic strikes, and doctrinal agility."
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May 11, 2025, 18:46 IST
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