India’s Indigenous Air Defence Triumph in Operation Sindoor
STORIES, ANALYSES, EXPERT VIEWS
- C. Bipindra
Operation Sindoor marks a turning point in India’s ability to independently secure its skies with homegrown technologies. Spanning four days of high-intensity conflict with Pakistan, Operation Sindoor showcased the robustness of India’s indigenous air defence architecture in protecting urban centres, key military installations, and strategic infrastructure from a barrage of missiles, drones, and aircraft.
High-Stakes Conflict
In the early hours of the first day of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan launched a surprise offensive involving long-range cruise missiles, fighter jets, and armed UAVs targeting 26 locations, including the Indian Air Force (IAF) bases in Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. The aim was clear: degrade India’s forward operational capacity and sow chaos in major cities such as Amritsar, Jammu, and even the outskirts of Delhi. What followed was an unprecedented display of India’s growing self-reliance in air defence systems. India’s integrated air defence and counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) grid came into action and took down several Pakistani armed drones, loitering munitions, and missiles.
Shield of the Skies
At the heart of India’s success was the Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Akash batteries stationed near Pathankot and Ambala Air Force Stations intercepted multiple Pakistani aerial threats during the first 48 hours of the conflict.
In one notable instance, a salvo of three cruise missiles aimed at Ambala AFS was detected by indigenous Central Acquisition Radars (CAR), prompting a swift Akash launch. Two missiles were destroyed mid-air, while the third was damaged enough to crash far short of its intended target. The ability of Akash to engage multiple targets simultaneously proved critical in reducing the effectiveness of saturation attacks.
Radar Network and Missile Defence
India’s success was not just about missiles, but also about how well it could detect and respond to threats. DRDO-developed systems such as the Rohini radar, Ashwini AESA radar, and Swordfish Long Range Tracking Radar formed an integrated early-warning network that gave the Indian Air Defence Command precious minutes to coordinate intercepts.
Notably, the Swordfish radar, which is part of India’s Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) program, picked up the launch of a Pakistani medium-range missile aimed at Jaipur. This detection triggered a test deployment of India’s Phase-I BMD interceptor, also developed by DRDO. Though never previously tested in live combat, the interceptor successfully destroyed the incoming missile at high altitude, marking the first live kill of a ballistic missile by an indigenous Indian system.
Iron Beam of the Desert
Perhaps the most unexpected success came in countering Pakistan’s swarm drone attacks on vital fuel and ammunition depots near Jaisalmer and Bhatinda. Dozens of small quadcopters attempted to breach Indian lines under radar cover at night.
India’s DRDO-developed Drone Detect, Deter, and Destroy (D4) system, integrated with passive electro-optical sensors and soft-kill jamming technologies, played a decisive role. Deployed in static and mobile variants, D4 not only detected incoming drones but also disrupted their GPS and communication links, causing many to crash. Complementing this was the Indra Netra laser-based counter-drone system, which neutralized five drones approaching an ordnance depot outside Bikaner using a focused energy beam—an unpublicised capability until now.
Long-Range and Quick Reaction
While Akash defended the hinterland, the Indian Navy’s warships patrolling the Arabian Sea relied on the Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) system, jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries. Though not purely indigenous, Indian production of these missiles under the Make in India initiative contributed to its combat readiness.
On the landward front, the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), tested extensively by the Army in the years leading up to Operation Sindoor, protected forward troop concentrations from low-flying aerial threats. QRSAM’s ability to relocate rapidly under fire and lock onto targets in motion was validated when it intercepted two incoming glide bombs over the Ganganagar sector.
Joint Command Systems
One of the major achievements during Operation Sindoor was the real-time coordination between the Army, Navy, and Air Force through the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), developed indigenously by BEL. This ensured seamless tracking, threat prioritization, and engagement orders across services, reducing response time and preventing friendly fire incidents.
A Coming of Age
Operation Sindoor served as a proving ground for India’s indigenous defence industry. From intercepting ballistic missiles to neutralizing drone swarms, Indian-developed systems stood at the frontline, reducing reliance on foreign platforms and enhancing strategic autonomy.
While some systems like LRSAM involve international collaboration, the operation underscored India’s maturing capability to independently design, deploy, and sustain a multi-layered air defence network. The successful defence of Indian airspace during this high-tempo conflict may well redefine defence procurement policies, with a sharper tilt toward homegrown innovation. India’s defence ministry is already spending nearly 60 percent of its capital procurement budget for buying Indian arms and military systems.
As geopolitical tensions persist, India’s performance in Operation Sindoor is a strong message—not only to adversaries but also to allies and defence partners—that the country is ready to defend itself with weapons forged at home.
Operation Sindoor is also a signal to other friendly foreign nations that the Indian defence industry is now ready to export its battle-proven military hardware to them when they need it.
(Courtesy: Defence.Capital)
