India’s various air defence systems require seamless integration
Mohammad Asif Khan
On the night of 14 April 2024, Iran launched Operation True Promise, marking a historic escalation in the ongoing conflict with Israel. This operation saw Iran and its proxies firing around 330 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israel. It was direct retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus earlier that month.
The scale and intensity of the attack were unprecedented. Israel, with the help of the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Jordan and Saudi Arabia, managed to intercept most of the incoming projectiles. However, satellite imagery suggests that a taxiway at Nevatim Air Base was damaged in the attack. This incident served as a stark reminder of air defence systems’ critical role in modern warfare. They are about safeguarding a nation’s airspace and protecting its civilian population and critical infrastructure.
In the context of India, a country that shares borders with adversarial neighbours and finds itself in a region rife with geopolitical tensions, the importance of a robust air defence system is even more pronounced. India’s air defence capabilities have been under scrutiny in light of these global events. India’s air defence capabilities rely heavily on foreign technology, particularly from Russia. The S-400 Triumph, one of the world’s most advanced air defence systems, is a prime example of this dependency. India signed a USD 5.5 billion deal with Russia in October 2018 to acquire five S-400 systems for the Indian Air Force. Since December 2021, Russia has delivered three units of the S-400 missile system to India, which have been deployed along the China and Pakistan borders.
On the other hand, China, India’s major adversary, has a strong air defence system. It operates Russian-built S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missiles. China also operates indigenously produced systems capable of tracking and attacking enemy aircraft. China showcased the FK-3000 air-defence missile weapon system, the HQ-16FE mid-to long-range air-defence missile weapon system and the Red-11 (also called HQ-11) universal terminal defence system at the Airshow China 2022 exhibition. China has made significant strides in expanding its air defence technology. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is adding combat aircraft at a rapid pace and continues to integrate into its aircraft a range of capable air-to-air missiles. China’s defence industry is also developing a new generation of air-to-surface stand-off weapons. Furthermore, China’s ambitious defence modernisation plan spanning 2023-2028 aims to solidify its status as a military powerhouse.
Emerging technologies such as stealth aircraft and drones pose a significant challenge. The air defence guns, which were the mainstay of ground-based air defence, seem to have lost their importance due to their limited range. The setback in Galwan, apropos China, continues to fester. These developments have put a spotlight on how well India is prepared to defend itself. Despite its advanced capabilities, the Air Defence System (ADS) faces many challenges. These include the need for modernisation and upgrading of existing systems, and the need to improve the coordination and interoperability of different air defence assets. In the face of these challenges, India needs to enhance its air defence capabilities.
India’s Air Defence Systems
Indian BMD Programme: The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme is a project that was started in 2000 by the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, after the Kargil War. The goal of this project is to create a defence system that can protect India from attacks by ballistic missiles. This system is designed to intercept any missile that is launched from a distance of up to 5,000 kilometres. The defence system is made up of two types of interceptor missiles. The first is the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile, which is used for high-altitude interception. The second is the Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile, which is used for lower-altitude interception. In addition to these missiles, the system also includes a network of radars for early warning and tracking, as well as command and control posts. These components work together to detect and intercept incoming missiles.
Prithvi Air Defence (PAD): The Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile is a high-altitude interceptor missile based on the Prithvi missile. It’s a two-stage missile, with both liquid and solid fuels. The interceptor is 10 metres tall, weighs 5.2 tonnes, and has a one-metre diameter. The PAD is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere (exo-atmospheric). It has a range of around 80 kilometres and can intercept missiles at altitudes of 50-80 kilometres. The PAD has an operational range of 300- 2,000 kilometres and a maximum interception altitude of 80 kilometres. The government of India launched the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) in 1983 to achieve self-sufficiency in the development and production of a wide range of ballistic missiles, surface-to-air missiles, etc. Prithvi was the first missile to be developed under the program. The missile was inducted into India’s Strategic Forces Command in 2003, and it was the first missile developed under the IGMDP. After a failed test on 24 September 2010, two more missiles aimed at two different targets were launched on 22 December 2010 and were successful.
Akash Air Defence System: The Akash Air Defence system is a medium-range missile system that can defend against various air threats. It's mobile and can be used to protect moving convoys. The system includes a missile with a ramjet engine, a guidance antenna that can be switched on or off, a command guidance unit, an onboard power supply and a mechanism for arming and detonating the system. It also has a digital autopilot, radars, and command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) centres. The Akash missile can target aircraft up to 45 kilometres away and neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles. An Akash battery includes a radar and four launchers, each with three missiles. Each battery can track up to 64 targets and attack up to 12 of them. The missile has a 60 kg high-explosive, pre-fragmented warhead with a proximity fuse. The system has been tested in a missile defence role and provides air defence missile coverage for an area of 2,000 square kilometres.
Akashteer Command and Control Systems: The Indian Army has also begun the induction of Akashteer Command and Control Systems, a project developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. This system is designed to automate Air Defence Control and Reporting processes, providing a unified network for radar and communication systems. The vehicle-based mobile control centres are designed to operate in various environments. This integration allows for more effective monitoring and control of airspace, particularly in detecting and responding to aerial threats. The mobility of the control centres ensures that they can be deployed quickly to different locations as needed, providing flexibility and resilience to India’s air defence infrastructure. The induction of this system into the Indian Army’s Corps of Army Air Defence has started.
S-400: The S-400 is the latest missile system to be acquired by India. It ordered five S-400 missile systems from Russia for INR 39,000 crore in October 2018. The S-400 comes with a mix of radars and missiles that allow it to knock down threats at various height and range bands, with the maximum range being 400 kilometres. The S-400 can track and neutralise a range of incoming objects, including aircraft, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over very long ranges. In a dense radio countermeasure scenario, it can provide air interception against early warning aircraft, airborne missile strategic carriers, tactical and theatre ballistic missiles and medium-range ballistic missiles. The S-400 is fully mobile, and each system has a 3D phased array acquisition radar that can track around 300 targets up to 600 kilometres, a command and control centre, automatic tracking and targeting systems, launchers and support vehicles. Each system has four different types of missiles for up to 40 kilometres, 120 kilometres, 250 kilometres, and a maximum range of 400 kilometres and up to 30 kilometres altitude.
Igla-S MANPADS: The Indian Army recently received the first Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) from Russia. This acquisition is part of a larger deal for 120 launchers and 400 missiles. The Igla-S systems enhance the Army’s Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities, particularly in high mountainous terrain along the northern border. The Igla-S is a hand-held defence system that can be operated by an individual or crew. It is designed to bring down low-flying aircraft and can also identify and neutralise air targets such as cruise missiles and drones. This acquisition is significant as it replaces the outdated Igla-1M systems and aligns with plans for future indigenous VSHORAD advancements. However, it’s worth noting that while the Igla-S acquisition is a step forward, India still needs to continue investing in and developing its air defence capabilities to keep pace with evolving threats.
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