The heart of India’s defence grid, and its strategic pivot towards self-reliance, is the indigenous Akash missile system.
NEW DELHI: In the early hours of 10 May 2025, Saturday, residents in Amritsar woke up to a frightening sound—the hum of incoming Pakistani kamikaze drones intent on causing civilian casualties. However, within moments, the drones were neutralised by the Indian Army’s quick-reaction air defence guns, safely intercepted above the skies of Punjab.
This was not just a tactical victory. It was symbolic of a deeper strategic narrative unfolding between two nuclear-armed neighbours. Ironically, Pakistan’s attempt to escalate hostilities following India’s precision strikes against terrorist infrastructure—codenamed Operation Sindoor—has inadvertently showcased India’s decade-long effort to build one of the world’s most formidable air defence ecosystems.
Pakistan’s recent escalation reveals a troubling strategic shift. Struggling economically and diplomatically, it appears the Pakistani establishment has opted for increasingly risky hybrid warfare tactics, reminiscent of non-state actors like Hamas in West Asia.
By launching Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones armed with high-explosive payloads towards densely populated civilian areas, Islamabad has shown its readiness to blur ethical lines and risk international condemnation. Such reckless provocations expose not only desperation but a dangerous lowering of Pakistan’s threshold for conflict.
Yet, these reckless provocations have simultaneously accentuated the hollowness of Pakistan’s ageing military infrastructure. When Pakistan retaliated to Operation Sindoor—India’s precise and measured destruction of nine terrorist camps located deep within Pakistani territory—it chose missile strikes aimed at strategic military installations across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. However, every missile was intercepted or neutralised. None reached its intended target. Instead, what unfolded was a comprehensive demonstration of India’s integrated air defence grid—a robust, coordinated response seamlessly executed across vast geographical regions.
This impressive feat wasn’t achieved overnight. It is the result of systematic policy shifts, strategic foresight, and sustained investment in air defence capabilities since 2014, driven by the Narendra Modi government’s clear-eyed vision of India’s national security needs. This approach has involved significant and targeted investments in cutting-edge defence technologies and an emphasis on indigenisation, ensuring India’s military independence and resilience.
The multi-layered air defence shield that has kept India’s skies secure comprises advanced systems, each performing unique yet interconnected roles. The S-400 Triumf, Russia’s most advanced air-defence system, is at the core of India’s aerial shield. Acquired in a Rs 35,000 crore deal in 2018, three out of five ordered squadrons are now fully operational along India’s western and northern borders. With a staggering 400 km range, the S-400 forms the outer perimeter, effectively neutralising long-range threats long before they approach sensitive regions.
Complementing the S-400 is the Barak-8 Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM), developed jointly with Israel under a $2.5 billion agreement. With a protective bubble extending up to 70 km, Barak-8 batteries deployed at strategic frontline bases offer India substantial leverage against medium-range threats.
However, the heart of India’s defence grid—and its strategic pivot towards self-reliance—is the indigenous Akash missile system. Extensively deployed along critical stretches of the Line of Control (LoC) and international borders, Akash has proved its worth, intercepting both drones and low-altitude projectiles with remarkable accuracy during recent escalations.
Operating at Mach 3.5 and equipped with a sophisticated phased-array radar system, Akash has transformed India’s air defence capabilities, even garnering international attention. Countries like Brazil, Armenia, Vietnam, Egypt, and the UAE have expressed keen interest in acquiring the system, highlighting its export potential and India’s growing stature as a global defence supplier.
The strategic evolution of India’s air defence is also evident in its agile and precise counter-offensive capabilities. Operation Sindoor was more than just retaliatory. It marked the operational debut of loitering munitions, the so-called “suicide drones,” domestically manufactured by Indian defence enterprises like Solar Industries. These drones, launched simultaneously, targeted and neutralised Pakistani air defence units with surgical precision in Lahore and Rawalpindi, severely degrading Islamabad’s radar infrastructure.
Additionally, the deployment of Israeli-origin Harop drones—now assembled in India—highlighted India’s strategic maturity. These drones specifically targeted Pakistani radar installations in Karachi and Lahore, demonstrating India’s capability to disrupt enemy defences decisively.
Complemented by the Rafale jets equipped with SCALP and HAMMER precision-guided munitions, India’s ability to strike with pinpoint accuracy hundreds of kilometres inside hostile territory sends a powerful strategic message to adversaries near and far.
At the core of this capability is India’s significant investment in electronic warfare and real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). The induction of Man-Portable Counter Drone Systems (MPCDS), developed indigenously and deployed in 2024, highlights how India has adapted rapidly to emerging threats like drone warfare. These systems jam hostile UAV signals, effectively disrupting enemy command-and-control networks, neutralising drone swarms swiftly and decisively.
Operation Sindoor and its subsequent defensive successes demonstrate that India’s strategic approach under Prime Minister Modi has transcended piecemeal procurements. Instead, the past decade has witnessed India and its armed forces meticulously constructing a multi-layered, integrated air defence ecosystem that combines indigenous innovation with strategic international partnerships. This carefully crafted blend has resulted in an airspace protection network capable of deterring threats and actively neutralising them, thus bolstering India’s overall strategic posture.
The implications of this transformation are profound. Pakistan’s escalating provocations now face diminishing returns. Each aggressive act merely serves to validate India’s defensive preparedness and strategic patience while simultaneously highlighting Pakistan’s own vulnerabilities and outdated military infrastructure. Globally, nations observing India’s operational prowess in air defence increasingly consider India a trusted and capable security partner, eager to deepen defence cooperation and procure Indian defence systems.
Looking ahead, India’s defence trajectory remains promising. Upcoming developments such as the Akash Next Generation (NG), slated for induction by 2026, with advanced capabilities including canisterised launchers and an extended range of 70 km, promise to add another robust layer to India’s already impressive air-defence umbrella. This aligns perfectly with the government’s “Make in India—Make for the World” initiative, further enhancing India’s position as a net exporter of sophisticated air defence systems.
Thus, Pakistan’s reckless drone warfare gamble has not only been strategically counterproductive but has paradoxically placed India’s air defence advancements on global display. Through strategic foresight and decisive investments over the last decade, India has redefined its defensive posture, ensuring the nation is secure and capable of responding with measured precision. This conflict has sent a clear message: the skies above India are not just defended—they are dominated.
* Ashish Singh is an award-winning senior journalist with over 18 years of experience in defence and strategic affairs.