On May 6, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a missile strike on nine terror-related sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Predictably, Pakistan countered with disinformation. The country falsely claimed to have destroyed an Indian air defense unit in Adampur using hypersonic missiles.

India’s air defense system is designed to protect the country from a range of threats, including drones, fighter jets, and missiles. It operates in three key stages:

Detection: Early warning radars and satellites, such as the Swathi Weapon Locating Radar and AWACS, continuously monitor the airspace.

Tracking: Once a threat is detected, advanced sensors like infrared cameras track the target’s movement, ensuring accurate identification.

Interception: Once tracked, a range of weapons is deployed to neutralise the threat.

Multi-layered defence system

India’s air defense system is structured in multiple layers to address different threats effectively:

Layer 1 targets close-in threats like drones and low-flying aircraft. Systems such as the Igla-S MANPADS and the Sudarshan CIWS, developed by L&T Defence, are capable of handling these threats efficiently.

Layer 2 addresses medium-range threats like aircraft and cruise missiles, with systems such as the Akash Missile System and the QRSAM providing rapid-response capabilities.

Layer 3 focuses on longer-range threats, with the Barak-8 system, which has a range of up to 80 km, deployed at critical locations like Bhatinda.

Layer 4, the most advanced layer, is designed to protect against high-altitude and long-range threats. The S-400 Triumf, acquired from Russia, is capable of engaging targets up to 400 km away. It is deployed in strategically important areas such as Delhi, Punjab, and the Northeast.

With a combination of satellite-based early warning systems, rapid-response missile shields, and precision interception capabilities, India is sending a clear message: any attack, whether on land or in the air, will not go unanswered.