How India foiled Pak's attack, turned its missiles, drones into duds

India Today

08-05-2025

Rattled by India's "focused, measured, and non-escalatory" operation Sindoor on Wednesday (May 7), a desperate Pakistan attempted to strike multiple military targets across Northern and Western India on the intervening nights of May 7 and 8. But, the Pakistani misadventure, that targeted at least 15 Indian military sites, was short-lived. The Pakistani swarm of drones and missiles fell like dead flies. Their shattered remains are now strewn across Indian soil, from Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir to Bhuj in the Rann of Kutch.advertisementThe Ministry of Defence said on Thursday that the Pakistani drones and missiles were quickly engaged and neutralised by India's Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems.What is this shield that helped India fend off an attack spread across 1,800 km of aerial distance of Indian territory? What are India's Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems that managed to fend off such a major attack from Pakistan?WHAT AND HOW OF INDIA'S INTEGRATED COUNTER-UAS SYSTEM GRID
Firstly, Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) are comprehensive defence mechanisms designed to detect, track, identify, and neutralise unauthorised drones.These systems employ a combination of technologies, including radar, radio frequency sensors, optical cameras, and acoustic detectors, to monitor airspace for potential threats.When a threat is identified, a C-UAS platform can deploy various countermeasures. They include signal jamming, GPS spoofing, or kinetic interceptors, to mitigate the risk posed by hostile unmanned aerial systems, according to Dedrone, a US-based company specialising in counter-drone and airspace security technologies.advertisementHowever, India's air defence is challenging and particularly complex due to its vast size, over 3.2 million square kilometres. Not every part of the country is equally vulnerable, but maintaining constant surveillance and readiness across such a large geography is daunting. This is where such grids come into play.So, in order to destroy such unidentified hostile unmanned aerial interceptions simultaneously, India has a network of such systems in place, called the Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) Grid.The grid is a sophisticated network of such systems designed to detect, track, and neutralise unauthorised drones and missiles. It factors in the incoming speeds and sizes of the incoming hostile drones and missiles. In turn, based on that assessment, it deploys an appropriate weapon, such as a missile from its arsenal, to neutralise it.Though India has several such systems in the grid, a system uses its own unique variants. That is because different systems don't talk to (communicate with) one another. Like Apple products, they too form an ecosystem.Having said that, India's air defence systems are progressively becoming more interconnected, but significant challenges remain in achieving full integration.That's because India's air defence structure consists of a combination of indigenous and imported systems. Those imported are from various countries, like Russia, the US, Israel, and France. Some components are from the Soviet era too. Each system has its own hardware and software, which is a hindrance to holistic integration.advertisementThe Indian air defence grid's successful neutralisation of incoming Pakistani missiles underscores the extent of its deployment across Indian territory to safeguard critical assets, including airbases, marking what appears to be a successful real-world test of the system.WHAT ARE AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS USED BY INDIA?India's unsung heroes, its air defence systems, are individual set-ups to deal with threats that come in many forms, including aircraft, drones, and missiles, requiring a multi-layered defence strategy to ensure comprehensive protection on its territory.At the forefront of India's air defence is the S-400 system, a long-range missile defence system imported from Russia. With a range of up to 450 km, the S-400 forms the outermost layer of India's defence, capable of intercepting advanced threats before they can reach critical targets.India has received three S-400 Triumf air defence system squadrons from Russia, with two more squadrons expected by early 2026, delayed from an initial 2025 timeline due to the war in Ukraine. In total, India ordered five squadrons under a $5.43 billion deal signed in 2018.
India's S-400 system can track aerial threats from as far as 600 kilometres and destroy them at ranges of up to 400 kilometres.
advertisementFor medium-range interception, India relies on the MR-SAM (Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile) and Barak 8 systems, developed jointly by India's DRDO and Israel's IAI. These systems cover a range of 70 to 150 km and are deployed on both land and naval platforms.Complementing this is the Akash system, an indigenous short-to-medium-range defence system that covers distances of 30 to 50 km.At the short-range level, the Spyder system, an Israeli-made defence solution with a range of 8–10 km, adds another layer of protection, particularly for sensitive areas. India also utilises legacy systems like the Soviet-era Pechora and OSA-AK, though these are being phased out due to their obsolescence.For very close-in threats, India has VSHORAD (Very Short Range Air Defense) systems, such as shoulder-fired missiles and gun-based platforms like the Shilka and Tunguska.Together, these systems form a layered, concentric air defence network, designed not just for interception but also for deterrence and kill.Tune InMust Watch