Latest news with #Pechora
The Print
2 days ago
- The Print
India used this battlefield hack to keep Soviet-era missile systems firing against Pakistan in Op Sindoor
During Operation Sindoor, the armed forces maintained the operational readiness of Pechora and Osa-AK missile systems through a logistical workaround, 'cannibalisation', wherein functional components from inactive units were transferred to active ones. This enabled the legacy systems to remain combat-ready and engage a range of aerial threats, including UAVs, loitering munitions and missiles. Among the aerial defence systems that stood their ground were the Soviet origin surface-to-air missile systems like the Pechora and Osa-AK. Despite severe spare shortages, their combat readiness was sustained through a battlefield hack — cannibalising parts from inactive units to keep others operational. New Delhi: As Pakistan launched waves of aerial attacks between 7 and 10 May, India's multi-layered air defence network stood firm. A mix of legacy Soviet-era systems and cutting-edge indigenous and imported platforms blunted threats across key fronts, protecting military bases and civilian areas and minimising damage. With conventional supply chains no longer producing spares for these decades-old platforms, this method became essential. By systematically repurposing critical parts, the forces ensured that at least a portion of the SAM batteries stayed deployable throughout the operation. Designed to counter fast-moving aerial targets, the Pechora (S-125 Neva/Pechora), inducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the early 1970s, is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system with a strike envelope of 25 km in range and 18 km in altitude. The Osa-AK (SA-8 Gecko), a short-range, highly mobile SAM system, features all-in-one tracked launchers equipped with onboard radar and six ready-to-fire missiles, making it especially effective in defending forward airbases and command facilities. Sources in the defence and security establishment said that anything detachable and reusable, such as radar transceivers, fire-control processors, command modules and data-link terminals, was identified, tested and reassigned wherever needed. This ensured that at least a portion of the ageing missile batteries remained functional and ready to intercept incoming threats. 'These legacy systems mostly have parts no longer in production. To keep the systems fully operational, the forces repurposed components from one unit to maintain two others in combat-ready condition,' said one of the sources. As far back as 2010–2011, the IAF had issued global tenders to procure spares supporting its ageing Russian-origin surface-to-air missile systems and fighter platforms. While some parts were sourced through international vendors, parallel efforts were also launched to develop indigenous alternatives, including joint ventures with Russian firms and defence public sector undertakings such as Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Despite these measures, gaps in availability persisted, particularly for high-end components including radar modules, electronic guidance units and missile interface assemblies. These shortages mainly stemmed as these legacy systems are no longer in production, making cannibalisation the only viable stopgap arrangement. Though considered ageing by the early 2000s, modernisation of the Pechora system began with a Rs 2,000 crore project launched in 2016 in partnership with BEL and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to upgrade 60 firing units. This effort enhanced radar performance and replaced obsolete electronics, extending the system's service life. Meanwhile, Osa-AK units have undergone periodic overhauls through similar Indian-Russian collaborations, ensuring that their radars and missiles remain serviceable. These legacy platforms, the sources said, provided coverage across vast stretches of northern and western India, including Punjab, Gujarat, and Jammu & Kashmir, where newer systems were either deployed elsewhere or kept in reserve. 'Even the older and battle-proven air defence weapons like the Pechora, Osa-AK and AD guns performed effectively in countering the Pakistani threat vectors….our wall of air defence was impossible to breach,' Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General Air Operations, said at a press conference. That wall, as it turns out, was built not just with newly acquired cutting-edge platforms like MRSAM, but also with decades-old systems brought back to life through ingenuity and improvisation. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: What's a National Security Strategy & why CDS Gen Chauhan feels India doesn't need one on paper
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Arms deals: India moves away from Russia; Pakistan from the U.S.
While India effectively utilised many of its indigenous defence systems during Operation Sindoor, it also relied on weapons built in collaboration with Israel, such as the SkyStriker drone, and those imported from Russia, such as the Pechora and OSA-AK missiles. Pakistan used Chinese-origin PL-15 missiles and Turkish-origin Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. An analysis of arms transfer data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that over the past decade, there has been a significant shift in the sourcing of weapons for both India and Pakistan. India has gradually reduced its dependence on Russia and has increasingly turned to Western countries such as France, the U.S., and the U.K. A significant portion of its arms imports also comes from Israel. The data reflect the quantity of weapons imported, without accounting for their firepower or operational role. Chart 1A shows the country-wise share of India's defence imports. Staring from the 1960s, India began to consistently source more than 33% of its weapons from Russia (formerly the Soviet Union). This dependence peaked in the 1990s, when Russia accounted for an overwhelming 96.5% of India's imports. From then, Russia's share steadily dropped, falling to a still substantial 75% in the 2020s. This drop was offset by increased imports from other countries: in the 2020s, France accounted for over 9%, the U.K. for 5.5%, Israel for nearly 5%, and the U.S. for close to 3% of India's weapons imports. In contrast, Pakistan has historically sourced the majority of its weapons from both China and the U.S. over several decades. However, in the 2020s, China has emerged as Pakistan's dominant arms supplier. Chart 1B illustrates the country-wise share of Pakistan's defence imports. In the 2020s, nearly 95% of Pakistan's arms imports came from China, marking a sharp rise from 41% in the 2010s and just 19% in the 2000s. Meanwhile, the U.S.'s share declined from nearly 67% in the 2000s to 38% in the 2010s to merely 0.85% in the 2020s. Apart from overall arms procurement, specific weapons and aircraft were also points of discussion during the recent conflict. The Indian Air Force played a crucial role in 'delivering precision strikes against terror infrastructure across Pakistan'. Additionally, the IAF's control of the airspace proved 'pivotal in protecting Indian airspace during retaliatory drone and UAV attacks'. Chart 2A shows the country-wise share of India's imports of weapons related to air power. Chart 2B shows the country-wise share of Pakistan's imports of weapons related to air power. India's dependence on countries apart from Russia is even more evident in this regard. In the 2020s, India has procured more than 55% of its weapons related to air power from France, the U.K., and Israel. Pakistan's dependence on China is also even more pronounced in this regard. Over the past three decades, between 50% and 85% of Pakistan's air-related imports have come from China. While the U.S.'s share in Pakistan's arms imports has significantly declined and its share in India's imports is only gradually rising, the superpower continues to dominate global arms exports overall. Chart 3 shows the country-wise share of global arms exports (in %). In the 2020s, more than 65% of the world's arms exports originated from the U.S. Russia's share has dwindled to 5% in the 2020s, which coincides with its invasion of Ukraine. Interestingly, China accounts for less than 2% of total exports worldwide in the 2020s. A significant portion of its limited exports (33%) is directed to Pakistan. Chart 4 shows shows the country-wise share of China's defence exports. Source: SIPRI vignesh.r@
News18
16-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pechora Missile System, Jaguar Jet Feature In Rajnath Singh's Bhuj Airbase Photo With Air Warriors
Last Updated: Rajnath Singh visited Air Force Station in Gujarat's Bhuj and addressed the air warriors on Friday. Rajnath Singh meets air warriors at Bhuj Air Force Station (CNN-News18) Following the footprints of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who addressed soldiers at Adampur airbase with S-400 air defence system in the background, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday posed with the air warriors at Air Force Station in Bhuj with Pechora missiles and Jaguar fighter aircraft in the backdrop. A day after visiting Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar where he also addressed the military personnel, Rajnath flew to the Air Force Station in Bhuj and interacted with the soldiers. In a message of strength, he posed with the military personnel for a group picture and had two of India's lethal weapons in the background – Pechora surface-to-air missile system and the Jaguar aircraft. More to follow… First Published:
The Print
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
India, Pakistan DGMOs agree to extend measures aimed at reducing border tensions
Multiple reports indicate that earlier the same day, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar notified the country's Parliament that the Pakistani military had agreed to extend the understanding with India until Sunday, following phone conversations between the two armies Wednesday and Thursday. 'Further to the understanding between the two DGMOs on 10th of May 2025, it has been decided to continue the confidence-building measures (CBM) so as to reduce the alertness level,' the Indian Army said Thursday. New Delhi: India and Pakistan Thursday agreed to extend military-level confidence-building measures (CBMs) and uphold an understanding for cessation of hostilities following communication between the offices of the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries. 'Today we had a conversation and the ceasefire will remain in place until 18 May,' Dar said, describing the talks as 'military to military communications'. Engagement between the military leaderships of the two countries comes against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, an Indian retaliatory strike launched on 7 May across the LoC targeting nine terror infrastructure sites. The operation was in direct response to the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and one local pony operator. Pakistan responded with aerial incursions involving drones and missile strikes on 8, 9 and 10 May. India then countered with retaliatory precision strikes on at least eight Pakistani airbases. The DGMOs of both the countries held talks on 10 May, reaching what was described as a 'ceasefire understanding'. During the conversation, it was mutually agreed that neither side would 'fire a single shot' nor initiate any 'aggressive or inimical action' against the other. The two countries also committed to immediate measures aimed at troop de-escalation from the borders and forward positions. A second round of DGMO-level talks was held on 12 May to review the implementation of the ceasefire understanding. While the details of these meetings remain classified, both armies have acknowledged ongoing communication aimed at upholding the agreement. The understanding appears to be holding, barring minor drone sightings across several border areas, though sources in the defence and security establishment say New Delhi has firmly reiterated that any engagement with Pakistan will be strictly limited to military channels. (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: From Pechora to S-400, Russian air defence systems India used to repel Pakistan's aerial incursions
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Time of India
New UK Immigration Rules: Aiming to significantly reduce migration?
News • 1 day ago On the night of May 8–9, as Pakistan launched a wave of coordinated drone and missile attacks across India's western border, the Indian Armed Forces responded with unmatched speed and precision. Over 50 drones were shot down across key military zones including Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, Akhnoor, Nagrota, and Pathankot. At the heart of this defensive success was the Pechora missile system—a Soviet-origin surface-to-air missile platform known for its lethal accuracy. Integrated with the 4R90 Yatagan radar, the Pechora can detect and neutralize targets mid-air, even under intense electronic jamming. With a kill probability of 92% and target engagement capability at up to 35 km range and 25 km altitude, it proved indispensable during this high-tempo engagement. Despite the induction of newer systems like the Akash NG, MRSAM, and S-400 'Sudarshan Chakra,' Pechora remains a trusted asset in India's layered air defence grid.
