What is S-400 and Akash system that India used to foil Pakistan's drone assault?

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08-05-2025

India on Thursday neutralised an attempted attack from Pakistan on various locations in northern and western parts of the country. India used its S-400 and Akash weapons systems to foil Pakistan's drone assault. But what do we know about them? read more
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Indian officials have named the S-400 air defence system the 'Sudarshan Chakra'. Reuters
India on Thursday neutralised an attempted attack from Pakistan on various locations in northern and western India.
India also disabled an air defence system at Lahore.
Pakistan's attempt at escalation despite India's warnings at retaliation came a day after the Indian military launched Operation Sindoor – which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
'On the night of May 7-8, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks,' the statement from India read.
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But what do we know about the S-400 and Akash India weapons systems India used to foil Pakistan's assault?
Let's take a closer look:
The S-400 system
The S-400 Triumf is a Russian air defence system.
It is considered one of the world's best surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) systems.
It is also thought to be one of the best long-range missile systems.
It is a newer version of Russia's S-300 system.
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The Triumf is made by Russia's Almaz-Antey corporation.
As per India Today, Indian officials have dubbed it the 'Sudarshan Chakra'.
As per NDTV, Nato has nicknamed the system as the SA-21 Growler.
The S-400 Triumf is considered one of the world's best surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. AP
It comprises three components – Missile launchers, a radar and a command centre.
The advanced radar allows it to offer 360-degree surveillance and counter-stealth capabilities.
As per News18, the Triumf radar has a detection range of around 400 kilometres for aircrafts.
It can track targets as far as 600 kilometres away.
It can detect missiles and other system at a range of around 250 kilometres.
It has an altitude coverage of around 30 kilometres.
It uses four types of missiles – 40N6, 48N6DM, 9M96E2, and 9M96E.
As per NDTV, The Triumf can hit aircraft, cruise missiles and even quick-moving intermediate range ballistic missiles.
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It can engage up to 80 targets simultaneously when using multiple radars.
Nato members consider the Triumf one of the world's deadliest systems on the basis of its long-range.
As per Business Today, the Triumf in exercises has shown an 80 per cent kill rate against enemy aircraft.
Russia in fact considers it to be superior to the US MIM-104 Patriot system.
The Triumf can be integrated with systems such as the S-300, Tor and Pantsir, as per Wion.
The Triumf is also used by China – which first purchased it in 2014, as per NDTV.
India and Russia in 2018 signed a $5 billion (Rs 38,000 crore) deal for five Triumf squadrons.
Each squadron comprises 16 vehicles.
India received the first Triumf squadron in December 2021, the second squadron in April 2022 and the third squadron in 2023.
India expects to receive the fourth squadron of the triumphs system by the end of this year.
As per India Today, India has placed one squadron in Pathankot for the defence of Jammu and Kashmir and the other squadron in a position to cover areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
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Akash weapons system
India also used its homegrown Akash Air Defense System to ward off attacks from Pakistan.
Manufactured by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash is a short medium-range surface-to-air missile system (SAM).
The system was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
It is 96 per cent indigenous keeping with the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The Aakash comprises launcher, a missile, a control centre, an integral mission guidance system, a multifunctional fire control radar, a system arming and explosion mechanism, a digital autopilot, C4I (command, control communication and intelligence) centres and supporting ground equipment.
A display of Akash weapon system at Rajpath during the 69th Republic Day Parade. PTI
The Group Control Centre (GCC) acts as the command and control headquarters for the entire system.
Each Akash battery comes with four 3D passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radars and four self-propelled launchers with three interconnected missiles each.
It has a battery-level radar known as Rajendra and a battery control centre.
Its missiles can also self-destruct.
The Akash system can guard against aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles and missiles launched from helicopters.
It has a range of 4. 5 to 25 kilometres.
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The Akash system works on mobile platforms such as battle tanks or wheeled trucks.
As per BEL, it can cover an altitude of 80 kilometres.
It can engage multiple air targets in group mode or fully autonomous mode.
It comes with inbuilt Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features.
It can carry conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 60 kilos.
The DRDO is currently developing a new version of Akash – known as the Akash (NG).
India is exporting the Akash weapons system to Armenia.
A number of other countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, Egypt, and Brazil have reportedly shown interest in buying the system from India.
With inputs from agencies