Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, defence sources have confirmed that every missile launched by Pakistan in its attempted retaliatory strike was intercepted or neutralised, with none reaching their intended targets across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
India’s multi-layered air defence ecosystem, developed and strengthened over the last decade, stood its ground during Pakistan’s attempted escalation. The coordinated deployment of the S-400 Triumf systems, Barak-8 MR-SAMs, Akash surface-to-air missiles, Integrated Counter-UAS Grid, and DRDO’s anti-drone technologies successfully created a robust aerial shield that deflected the entire wave of incoming threats.
In a forceful counter-response, Indian armed forces struck deep into Pakistani territory, sources revealed. A Chinese-supplied HQ-9 (HQ-99) air defence unit in Lahore was destroyed, and critical radar infrastructure in the area was significantly damaged. Precision strikes using loitering munitions—or suicidal drones—were also carried out, marking a technological and tactical milestone for India.
These loitering munitions, ordered in 2021 and now manufactured indigenously, made their operational debut during Operation Sindoor, targeting strategic locations across Pakistan. Among them were Harop drones of Israeli origin, now produced in India, which were deployed to destroy Pakistani air defence assets in Karachi and Lahore.
Sources highlighted that India’s preparedness was not an overnight achievement. Since 2014, the Modi government has focused on strengthening air defence capabilities. This includes:
- A ₹35,000 crore deal in 2018 with Russia for five S-400 Triumf squadrons, three of which are now operational;
- A $2.5 billion agreement with Israel for Barak-8 MR-SAM systems, deployed at key military bases like Bhatinda;
- Development of Akash missile batteries and indigenous counter-drone technologies by DRDO.
Operation Sindoor, which began in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, targeted nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian military’s seamless air defence and swift retaliation has further cemented its technological edge and operational readiness in the face of external aggression.
