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Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Explained: How Air Defence Systems work
After thwarting Pakistani attacks on several Indian targets overnight, India on Thursday morning targeted air defence systems in a number of locations in Pakistan. 'It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised,' the Army said in a press release. '[The] Indian response has been in the same domain, [and of the] same intensity as Pakistan,' the release said. Controlling the skies is of paramount importance in modern warfare. As such, air defence systems are a vital cog in any nation's defensive infrastructure. A capable and operational air defence system protects against enemy air strikes, as was evident from the fact that Pakistan failed to inflict damage on India during Wednesday-Thursday night. And taking down the enemy's air defences leaves it vulnerable to aerial attacks in its territory. HOW THEY WORK The primary objective of an air defence system is to take out threats from the skies — be it enemy fighter aircraft, unmanned drones, or missiles. This is done with the help of a complex system of radar, control centres, defensive fighter aircraft, and ground-based air defence missile, artillery, and electronic warfare systems. An air defence system can be sub-categorised into three interlinked operations. DETECTION: Key to the success of any air defence system is its ability to detect threats in the first place. This is typically done by radar, although satellites may be used in certain circumstances — such as an enemy launching an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). Radar send out beams of electromagnetic radio waves through a transmitter. These waves are reflected by the objects that they hit — such as an enemy aircraft. A receiver then collects the returning radio waves — based on which it makes inferences such as the distance of the threat, its speed, and its specific nature (what kind of aircraft/ missile). TRACKING: The efficiency of an air defence system is also determined by its ability to constantly and accurately track — and not merely detect — an aerial threat. This is typically done using a combination of radar and other sensors such as infrared cameras or laser rangefinders. More often than not, an air defence system is not just dealing with a single threat — it has to identify and track multiple, fast-moving threats in complex and cluttered environments, which may also include friendly aircraft. The accuracy of tracking is crucial for effectively neutralising the enemy without targeting false threats. INTERCEPTION: Once the threat has been detected and tracked, it must be neutralised. Here, the specifics of the threat — its range, type (what kind of missile/ aircraft), speed, etc. — determine the ways in which air defences work. All these three aspects of an air defence system have to work together as a cogent whole. This requires what in military parlance is called 'C3' or a 'command, control and communication' system. Beyond the technical capabilities of detecting, tracking, and intercepting aerial threats, superior communication and decision-making capabilities are crucial for an effective air defence. HOW THEY INTERCEPT Depending on the challenges they foresee, nations utilise a wide assortment of weapons to neutralise aerial threats. These include the following. FIGHTER AIRCRAFT: Interceptors are fighters that take on attacking enemy aircraft, especially bombers. These agile aircraft can be scrambled at a moment's notice, and they climb quickly to altitude and neutralise an enemy aircraft before it deploys its weapons. Interceptors are equipped for air-to-air combat with cannon, rockets, a suite of visual-range and beyond-visual-range missiles, and electronic warfare systems. Aircraft such as the MiG-21 — an upgraded variant of which is still in service with the Indian Air Force — were dedicated interceptors; latest fighter aircraft have 'multirole capabilities'. India can deploy any of its Sukhoi Su-35s, MiG-29s, HAL Tejas, Mig-21 Bisons, and Dassault Rafales for interceptor missions. SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES (SAMS): Today, SAMs are the bread-and-butter of most air defence systems. This is because they are more effective than anti-aircraft artillery (AAA), and do not put pilots in danger like interceptors. SAMs can be used to target enemy fighters, helicopters, and missiles. They are generally radar-, infrared-, or laser-guided. In addition to being operated from the ground, SAMs can also be launched from ships. The three, oft-used but unofficial classes of SAMs are: * Heavy long-range systems which are fixed or semi-mobile; * Medium-range vehicle-mounted systems that can fire on the move; * Short-range man-portable air-defense systems (or MANPADS). Each SAM class has a different function. The heaviest SAMs, such as the Russian-made S-400 system used by India, take on enemy ballistic missiles or aircraft at long range, as much as a few hundred kilometres. Medium range SAMs have the capability to hit targets in the 50-100 km range but are more mobile, and can be launched in next-to-no time. MANPADS are used for low-lying targets such as hovering helicopters or drones, or fixed-wing aircraft engaged in ground attack roles. These are far more cost-effective than the other classes, and have been used extensively not only by militaries but also non-state actors in unconventional warfare. India's arsenal of SAMs include the indigenously-developed medium-range Akash missiles, the medium-to-long range Barak missiles, and the long-range S-400 missiles. ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY (AAA): Once the cornerstone of ground-based air defence systems, the development of SAMs and capabilities of modern fighter jets have greatly reduced the salience of AAA. But augmented with automated fire-control systems, they remain crucial last-ditch defences, and are also used for specialised anti-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) roles. AAA fire shells rapidly, at rates of over 1,000 rounds per minute. AAA shells are designed to explode at predetermined altitudes so as to disperse shrapnel over a wide area. This makes an AAA battery effective even if it does not achieve a direct hit. ELECTRONIC WARFARE (EW): It is not necessary to actually shoot down an enemy aerial threat in order to neutralise it. EW systems are designed to disrupt, deceive, or destroy threats using the power of the electromagnetic spectrum. In the context of air defence, EW is most often used to jam enemy radar and targeting systems, so as to impede its ability to accurately and effectively deploy its weapon. EW can confuse attack drones or prevent enemy air-to-surface missiles from homing in on targets. Several highly sophisticated EW systems are in use today. These can operate from both land and air, including from specialised EW aircraft, such as the US Navy's Boeing EA-18G Growler, the EW version of the F/A-18 Super Hornet. TAKING DOWN ADs Establishing air superiority allows an Air Force to operate with a degree of impunity, and without fear of attrition in bombing, tactical air support, paratroop insertion, or supply-drop missions. To establish air superiority over enemy territory, the enemy's air defence systems have to be neutralised. Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) operations target enemy air defences with missiles, EW, bombs, UAVs or even ground attacks. An analysis published in 2005 found that a quarter of American combat sorties in (then) recent conflicts had been SEAD missions (Christopher Bolkcom, 'Military Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD): Assessing Future Needs'). Given the role of air superiority in providing a protective umbrella for ground forces, taking down enemy air defences also lays the ground for deeper ground attacks into enemy territory.
Epoch Times
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Former US Army Officer Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Selling Sensitive Military Information
A former U.S. Army intelligence officer who had top secret security clearance was sentenced to seven years in prison on April 23 for conspiring to collect and sell national defense information to an individual he believed was affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Korbein Schultz, 25, was 'fully aware of the grave national security implications' when he used his position and access to restricted databases to download and transmit at least 92 sensitive U.S. military documents, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee Schultz, of Wills Point, Texas, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to multiple charges, including conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange for sensitive, non-public U.S. government information. 'This defendant swore an oath to defend the United States — instead, he betrayed it for a payout and put America's military and service members at risk,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said. 'The Justice Department remains vigilant against China's efforts to target our military and will ensure that those who leak military secrets spend years behind bars.' According to Many of the documents he had access to in his role were labeled with warnings that they held technical data that was subject to export controls, court documents state. Related Stories 4/24/2025 4/23/2025 Prosecutors said that between May 2022 and his arrest in March 2024, Schultz provided dozens of sensitive documents and data related to U.S. military capabilities to an unnamed Chinese national residing in Hong Kong. Despite 'clear indications' that the individual was likely connected to the Chinese regime, Schultz continued to hand over the documents and data in exchange for approximately $42,000, according to officials. Among the documents Schultz gave the individual were those regarding his Army unit's operational order before it was deployed to Eastern Europe in support of NATO operations; lessons learned by the U.S. Army from the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict that were applicable to Taiwan's defense; technical manuals for the HH-60 helicopter, F-22A fighter aircraft, and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems; and information on Chinese military tactics and the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force. Additionally, Schultz handed documents containing details on U.S. military exercises in the Republic of Korea and the Philippines, U.S. military satellites and missile defense systems such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), and tactics for countering unmanned aerial systems in large-scale combat operations. The unnamed individual initially contacted Schultz through a freelance web-based work platform shortly after he received his high-level security clearance, prosecutors said. The individual posed as a client from a geopolitical consulting firm and sought to get Schultz to provide 'detailed analyses on U.S. military capabilities and planning,' particularly as they pertain to Taiwan and the Russia–Ukraine war. Over time, the unnamed person began demanding increasingly more specific and sensitive information from Schultz, including technical manuals, operational procedures, and intelligence assessments, and was particularly eager to have documents that weren't publicly available, prosecutors said. Schultz agreed to obtain the highly classified documents and even attempted to recruit a friend and fellow Army intelligence analyst into the conspiracy, who at the time was assigned to the U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command, according to prosecutors. 'This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it,' said FBI Director Kash Patel. 'The People's Republic of China is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target.' The Epoch Times has contacted an attorney for Schultz for comment.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fort Campbell soldier who pleaded guilty to selling secrets to China sentenced to 7 years
The Fort Campbell soldier who pleaded guilty to selling military information to people tied to the Chinese government was sentenced April 23 to seven years in federal prison. Korbein Schultz, 25, of Wills Port, Texas, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China and accepting bribes in exchange of sensitive, non-public U.S. government information. More: Fort Campbell soldier pleads guilty to selling info to China, including about Taiwan "This defendant swore an oath to defend the United States — instead, he betrayed it for a payout and put America's military and service members at risk,' Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a news release. 'The Justice Department remains vigilant against China's efforts to target our military and will ensure that those who leak military secrets spend years behind bars." Court documents showed Schultz engaged in an ongoing conspiracy to provide dozens of sensitive U.S. military documents, many containing export-controlled tactical and technical information, directly to a foreign national living in the People's Republic of China between May 2022 until his arrest in March 2024. The U.S. attorneys office said in a release that the person, referred to in documents as Conspirator A, was "likely" connected to the Chinese government and continued a relationship with Schultz for about $42,000 in exchange for Schultz providing documents and data related to U.S. military capabilities, including: His Army unit's operational order before it was deployed to Eastern Europe in support of NATO operations; Lessons learned by the U.S. Army from the Ukraine/Russia conflict applicable to Taiwan's defense; Technical manuals for the HH-60 helicopter, F-22A fighter aircraft and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems; Information on Chinese military tactics and the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force; Details on U.S. military exercises in the Republic of Korea and the Philippines; Documents concerning U.S. military satellites and missile defense systems like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). Tactics for countering unmanned aerial systems in large-scale combat operations. As the relationship progressed, Conspirator A's demands grew increasingly specific and sensitive, requesting technical manuals, operational procedures and intelligence assessments, the release said. Conspirator A made explicit his interest in materials that were not publicly available and encouraged the defendant to seek out higher levels of classification. Schultz agreed to obtain higher levels of classified information for Conspirator A in exchange for money. The attorney's office said Schultz was fully aware of the national security implications but used his position and access to restricted databases — including closed U.S. government computer networks — to download and transmit at least 92 sensitive U.S. military documents. The case also revealed attempts by Schultz to recruit a friend and fellow Army intelligence analyst into the conspiracy. At the time, Schultz's friend was assigned to the U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), which is the combatant command that covers China and its regional areas of influence. Schultz and Conspirator A discussed the need to recruit another person into their scheme who had better access to classified material. They agreed that the recruitment needed to be done in a 'nice and slow fashion,' documents show. "This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it,' FBI Director Kash Patel said in the release. 'The People's Republic of China is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target. The FBI and our partners will continue to root out espionage and hold those accountable who abandon their obligation to safeguard defense information from hostile foreign governments.' The FBI's Nashville Field Office investigated the case, with the assistance from the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command and the Department of Defense. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ex-Tennessee soldier sentenced for selling military secrets to China
New York Post
24-04-2025
- New York Post
Former US Army intelligence analyst sentenced for selling sensitive documents to Chinese national
A former US Army intelligence analyst was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday for giving sensitive military information to a person he believed was affiliated with the Chinese government. Korbein Schultz, 25, of Wills Point, Texas, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange for sensitive, non-public US government information. Advertisement From May 2022 until his arrest in March 2024, Schultz engaged in an ongoing conspiracy to provide dozens of sensitive US military documents — many of which contained export-controlled tactical and technical information — directly to a foreign national living in the People's Republic of China, according to court documents. Despite 'clear indications' the person he was giving the information to was likely connected to the Chinese government, Schultz continued the relationship in exchange for about $42,000, according to officials. Schultz pleaded guilty to giving the person in China his Army unit's operational order before it was deployed to Eastern Europe in support of NATO operations; lessons learned by the US Army from the Ukraine and Russia conflict, applicable to Taiwan's defense; technical manuals for the HH-60 helicopter, F-22A fighter aircraft, and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems; information on Chinese military tactics and the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force; and details on US military exercises in the Republic of Korea and the Philippines. 4 Korbein Schultz pleaded guilty to conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange for sensitive, non-public US government information. Sgt. Ryan Rayno, 181st Multifunctional Training Brigade Advertisement He also provided documents concerning US military satellites and missile defense systems like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, and tactics for countering unmanned aerial systems in large-scale combat operations. The person Schultz gave information to in China first contacted him through a freelance web-based work platform shortly after Schultz received his Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance, according to court documents. They allegedly posed as a client from a geopolitical consulting firm, soliciting Schultz to provide detailed analyses on US military capabilities and planning, particularly in relation to Taiwan and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 4 Tanks from the People's Liberation Army roll through Tiananmen Square during a parade marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1, 2009. REUTERS Advertisement As the relationship progressed, the Chinese national's demands grew increasingly specific and sensitive — requesting technical manuals, operational procedures and intelligence assessments. The conspirator made it clear that he was interested in receiving materials that were not publicly available and encouraged Schultz to seek out higher levels of classification, emphasizing 'exclusiveness' and 'CUI and better,' according to court documents. Schultz agreed to send higher levels of classified information to the Chinese man in exchange for money. 4 Chinese flags on display at the Yangshan Port outside Shanghai, China on Feb. 7, 2025. REUTERS Advertisement Fully aware of the national security implications, Schultz accessed restricted databases, including closed US government computer networks, to download and transmit at least 92 sensitive US military documents, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). He also attempted to recruit his friend, a fellow Army intelligence analyst, into the conspiracy. At the time, Schultz's friend was assigned to the US Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command, the combatant command that covers China and its regional areas of influence. Schultz and the Chinese conspirator talked about needing to recruit another person who had better access to classified material, agreeing to do so in a 'nice and slow fashion,' according to court documents. 4 A US and Chinese flags are stitched together in an illustration on Jan. 8 2025. REUTERS Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Schultz betrayed his oath to defend the US, putting America's military and service members at risk. 'The Justice Department remains vigilant against China's efforts to target our military and will ensure that those who leak military secrets spend years behind bars,' Bondi wrote in a statement provided by the DOJ. Advertisement Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Kash Patel added service members are a 'prime target' for the People's Republic of China. 'This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it,' Patel wrote in a statement. 'The People's Republic of China is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target. The FBI and our partners will continue to root out espionage and hold those accountable who abandon their obligation to safeguard defense information from hostile foreign governments.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Former US Army intelligence analyst sentenced for selling sensitive documents to Chinese national
A former U.S. Army intelligence analyst was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday for giving sensitive military information to a person he believed was affiliated with the Chinese government. Korbein Schultz, 25, of Wills Point, Texas, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange for sensitive, non-public U.S. government information. From May 2022 until his arrest in March 2024, Schultz engaged in an ongoing conspiracy to provide dozens of sensitive U.S. military documents — many of which contained export-controlled tactical and technical information — directly to a foreign national living in the People's Republic of China, according to court documents. Despite "clear indications" the person he was giving the information to was likely connected to the Chinese government, Schultz continued the relationship in exchange for about $42,000, according to officials. Retired Army Captain Dedicates His Medal Of Honor Award To Fellow Soldiers In Afghanistan Schultz pleaded guilty to giving the person in China his Army unit's operational order before it was deployed to Eastern Europe in support of NATO operations; lessons learned by the U.S. Army from the Ukraine and Russia conflict, applicable to Taiwan's defense; technical manuals for the HH-60 helicopter, F-22A fighter aircraft, and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems; information on Chinese military tactics and the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force; and details on U.S. military exercises in the Republic of Korea and the Philippines. Read On The Fox News App He also provided documents concerning U.S. military satellites and missile defense systems like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, and tactics for countering unmanned aerial systems in large-scale combat operations. The person Schultz gave information to in China first contacted him through a freelance web-based work platform shortly after Schultz received his Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance, according to court documents. They allegedly posed as a client from a geopolitical consulting firm, soliciting Schultz to provide detailed analyses on U.S. military capabilities and planning, particularly in relation to Taiwan and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll To Lead Atf, Replacing Fbi Director Kash Patel As the relationship progressed, the Chinese national's demands grew increasingly specific and sensitive — requesting technical manuals, operational procedures and intelligence assessments. The conspirator made it clear that he was interested in receiving materials that were not publicly available and encouraged Schultz to seek out higher levels of classification, emphasizing "exclusiveness" and "CUI and better," according to court documents. Schultz agreed to send higher levels of classified information to the Chinese man in exchange for money. Fully aware of the national security implications, Schultz accessed restricted databases, including closed U.S. government computer networks, to download and transmit at least 92 sensitive U.S. military documents, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). New Army Secretary Praises Trump, Hegseth For Creating 'A Lane For Change' As He Zeroes In On Cutting Waste He also attempted to recruit his friend, a fellow Army intelligence analyst, into the conspiracy. At the time, Schultz's friend was assigned to the U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command, the combatant command that covers China and its regional areas of influence. Schultz and the Chinese conspirator talked about needing to recruit another person who had better access to classified material, agreeing to do so in a "nice and slow fashion," according to court documents. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Schultz betrayed his oath to defend the U.S., putting America's military and service members at risk. "The Justice Department remains vigilant against China's efforts to target our military and will ensure that those who leak military secrets spend years behind bars," Bondi wrote in a statement provided by the DOJ. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Kash Patel added service members are a "prime target" for the People's Republic of China. "This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it," Patel wrote in a statement. "The People's Republic of China is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target. The FBI and our partners will continue to root out espionage and hold those accountable who abandon their obligation to safeguard defense information from hostile foreign governments."Original article source: Former US Army intelligence analyst sentenced for selling sensitive documents to Chinese national
