logo
Operation Sindoor: Pakistan Launched 1,000 Drones Against India; Majority Of Them Neutralised By Army

Operation Sindoor: Pakistan Launched 1,000 Drones Against India; Majority Of Them Neutralised By Army

India.com19-05-2025

New Delhi: After the strategic success of the ongoing Operation Sindoor, Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha, Director General of the Army Air Defence, said that Pakistan had launched nearly 800 to 1000 drones across the western border over four days, and highlighted their successful neutralisation through coordinated efforts by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. He confirmed that all drones carrying weapons were successfully intercepted, preventing any civilian casualties. In an interview with ANI, he explained how all three services worked together to defend against drone and missile attacks.
"..I would say anything between 800 to 1000 across the whole western border in four days. A large number of them were destroyed. One thing for sure is that all the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles [UCAV] which carried a payload, although they intended to harm our civilian population and they were directed towards population centres, we ensured that they did not cause any damage, and I think the proof of the pudding is actually in what we actually saw, that there were no civilian casualties..." Lt Gen D'Cunha told ANI in an exclusive interview.
The top Army officer credited Operation Sindoor for its success and praised the joint coordination between the Army, Navy, and Air Force in countering drone and missile threats from Pakistan. Explaining the division of responsibilities among the services, he said, "The role for air defence is shared between the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Air Force is the primary respondent, but each service has its part. The Army is in charge of the airspace and rear areas within the Tactical Battle Area (TBA), while the Air Force protects important places like major cities and refineries. If we have a strong radar system to detect threats like drones and a well-layered defence setup, we can respond effectively. The first layer could be guns with a range of around three kilometres, then missiles at 10 kilometres, and then you have a leaker, which comes through to be very unfortunate."
Lt Gen D'Cunha described India's layered air defence system, saying there are multiple levels of protection. The first includes guns with a two-kilometre range, followed by V-SHORAD missiles with a 3.5 km range, the Akash missile system with an 18 km range, and longer-range systems like MR-SAM and S-400. "Whether it's a gun, a shoulder-fired missile like V-SHORAD, the indigenous Akash system, or the MR-SAM, each weapon operates at a specific altitude. Guns can engage targets up to 1.8 to 2 km, V-SHORAD up to 3.5 km, Akash up to 18 km, MR-SAM around 14 km, and the S-400 can also go up to 18 km. The altitude of the threat helps determine the most suitable weapon system to use. In an automated system like Akash Teer, which is still being rolled out, this process becomes highly efficient. Akash Teer of the Army and the IACCS of the Air Force work together to ensure proper use of resources and timely weapon allocation," he said.
He added that although the S-400 system is operated by the Air Force's IACCS due to its cost and long range, close coordination now exists between the Army and Air Force through automated systems. When asked about the nature of the drone attacks, Lt Gen D'Cunha said, "Many flew very low to confuse gunners and saturate our radars. These drones were within the range of our guns and were effectively brought down. As they moved higher, into the next engagement zone up to 2 km, they were targeted again. Our jammers and electronic warfare systems also played a role, using techniques like jamming, cyber spoofing, and even cyber takeover to neutralise the threats."
He also praised the indigenous Akashteer system, which plays a key role in coordinating air defence operations. "We have rolled out the Akash system, and in fact, the complete translation of the Air Force's IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System) picture into the Tactical Battle Area is done through Akash Teer. It's an outstanding system that provides a centralised view of the airspace, clearly identifying enemy targets and passing that information all the way down to the weapon systems on the ground. Akash Teer is fully indigenous and completely integrated."
Akashteer provides a common, real-time air picture to all involved parties (control room, radars and Defence Gun), enabling coordinated air defence operations. It is a system designed to automate detection, tracking and engagement of enemy aircraft, drones and missiles. It integrates various radar systems, sensors and communication technologies into a single operational framework.
Akashteer gathers data from multiple sources, processes it and allows for automated, real-time engagement decisions. Akashteer is part of the broader C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) framework, working in coordination with other systems. The system is vehicle-based, which makes it mobile and easier to handle in a hostile environment.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Tharoor, Owaisi, Sule defended India abroad, Rahul Gandhi betrayed': Himanta
‘Tharoor, Owaisi, Sule defended India abroad, Rahul Gandhi betrayed': Himanta

Hindustan Times

time22 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

‘Tharoor, Owaisi, Sule defended India abroad, Rahul Gandhi betrayed': Himanta

In a rare show of appreciation for their political opponents, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday praised Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi and NCP(SCP) leader Supriya Sule for defending India with dignity abroad. The BJP leader also launched a sharp attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for "tarnishing India's image on international platforms, while contrasting him with these other opposition leaders. Also Read | 'World now knows the truth': Shashi Tharoor-led delegation on Operation Sindoor wraps up US visit "I am thankful to Congress and other opposition leaders, especially Shashi Tharoor, who have strongly defended India's position on foreign soil. Not only him, but leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi and Supriya Sule also represented India on foreign soil and defended the nation," Himanta was quoted as saying by PTI. "They all stood for India. But the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, did not. He has betrayed the nation. He has betrayed the armed forces," Sarma further alleged. Also Read | 19 Brahmos, Crystal Maze missiles: How India brought Pakistan to its knees during Op Sindoor Himanta Biswa Sarma was referring to the all-party delegations that recently toured several countries, carrying out an anti-terror drive on behalf of the central government. Sarma further accused Rahul Gandhi of repeatedly raising doubts about India's military strength and questioning the government's response to Pakistan. During a discussion on a resolution in the state assembly over the success of 'Operation Sindoor', Sarma said Gandhi has been constantly asking about India's losses, but never wanted to know the damage incurred by Pakistan in the military conflict. Also Read | Gen Ghai, face of army during Op Sindoor, promoted as dy chief of army staff "Asking about the losses after the military conflict is a different thing, but he asked about India's losses when it was ongoing. However, he never asked about Pakistan's losses," Sarma claimed. Rahul Gandhi often stirred controversies with his remarks abroad, the most recent being his speech at the University of Texas in the United States last year. Addressing the gathering there, Gandhi said, "The West has an employment problem. India has an employment problem... But many countries in the world don't have an employment problem. China certainly doesn't have an employment problem. Vietnam doesn't have an employment problem." Also Read | Did Pakistan hit Adampur, Bhuj air bases during Operation Sindoor? Satellite images show otherwise Recently, Gandhi called out External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his "damning silence" on the number of aircraft India lost under Operation Sindoor. The Congress MP also accused the EAM of informing Pakistan of the start of India's response in Operation Sindoor.

"Breach Of Principles...": Bombay High Court On Pune Student's Explusion Over Instagram Post On Op Sindoor
"Breach Of Principles...": Bombay High Court On Pune Student's Explusion Over Instagram Post On Op Sindoor

NDTV

time35 minutes ago

  • NDTV

"Breach Of Principles...": Bombay High Court On Pune Student's Explusion Over Instagram Post On Op Sindoor

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday set aside the expulsion of a 19-year-old second-year engineering student from Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, Pune, who was arrested for an Instagram post related to Operation Sindoor. The Court observed that the expulsion was issued in violation of the principles of natural justice. The bench comprising Justices Makarand S Karnik and Nitin R Borkar ordered that the student was not issued a show-cause notice nor allowed to be heard before the disciplinary action was taken. The court remarked, "Admittedly, the letter of rustication was issued in breach of the principles of natural justice. She was not heard before the letter was issued. Given the matter, the impugned order is set aside." The court held that the expulsion letter was arbitrary and unlawful, and granted liberty to the college authorities to issue an appropriate order only after giving the petitioner an opportunity to be heard and following due process. The student was arrested by the Pune Police on May 9 for allegedly sharing an Instagram story which criticised the Centre over Operation Sindoor. She was later booked under Sections 121, 153, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code. The post was deleted within two hours, and she issued a public apology. Her petition before the High Court sought bail, quashing of the expulsion order, and permission to appear for semester exams scheduled between May 24 and June 3. A vacation bench of the High Court earlier granted her interim bail on May 27 and allowed her to appear for the remaining exams. Regarding the theory and practical exams she missed during custody, the Court on Monday noted that she had made a representation to the college, which was forwarded to the Director of the Board of Examinations and Evaluation, Savitribai Phule Pune University. The court has directed the university to decide the same on merits in an expeditious manner.

Assam assembly passes resolution to name Dibrugarh airport after Bhupen Hazarika
Assam assembly passes resolution to name Dibrugarh airport after Bhupen Hazarika

Hindustan Times

timean hour ago

  • Hindustan Times

Assam assembly passes resolution to name Dibrugarh airport after Bhupen Hazarika

GUWAHATI: The Assam assembly on Monday passed a resolution to name the Dibrugarh airport after eminent poet, composer and singer Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika. 'It gives me great joy to share that the Assam assembly has unanimously passed the resolution to rename Dibrugarh airport as Dr Bhupen Hazarika airport. This will be a befitting tribute to the legacy of the Bharat Ratna, whose contributions to Assam and Bharat are unparalleled,' chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a post on X. Sarma told the state assembly, which convened for a special one-day session, that the state government has planned year-long celebrations to mark the birth centenary of Hazarika this year. He said that the celebrations will begin in Guwahati on September 8 and conclude on the same date next year in Delhi. The next phase of the celebrations will be spread across places closely associated with Hazarika's life and his illustrious and long career. It will include events in Arunachal Pradesh, where he was born and spent his early years, West Bengal, and Maharashtra, where he pursued his professional career. The state government will also publish a book chronicling the significant events and contributions of Hazarika's life. 'The book will be translated into 23 Indian languages and distributed to colleges, universities, libraries and institutions across the country. We aim to ensure that the legacy of Bhupen Hazarika reaches every Indian household,' Sarma said. The assembly also passed a resolution congratulating the armed forces and the central government for the success of Operation Sindoor against Pakistan last month.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store