India is building its own advanced air defence missile system
Prof. D.K. Pandey
Israel’s war against Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the Houthi rebels in Yemen has explicitly established the need for air defence systems. Israel boasts of having an exceptionally good aerial defence system with the support of the United States, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow 2, and Arrow 3 missiles. Israel has often employed its complex network of air defences to respond to missile and drone attacks in the past few months. Israel used all the missile defence systems that were available at that time to repel over 300 drones and missiles in April and 180 projectile attacks from Iran on 1 October 2024. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) stated that 90 per cent of the Iranian projectiles launched were destroyed.
The Iron Dome is considered the most used missile defence system globally, with over 2,500 operational intercepts and a success rate of over 90 per cent since 2011. The system is intended to engage short-range rockets, shells, and mortars at distances between 4km and 70km from the missile launcher, strengthening its image of accuracy and reliability.
India also needs to enhance its air defence environment to counter threats from the air, as it has two hostile neighbours. These threats originate both from the east (China) and the west (Pakistan). It is important for India to strengthen its air defence capabilities to ensure the country’s security.
Indian SAMs
India’s air defence missile systems play a crucial role in protecting its airspace from aerial threats, including enemy aircraft, missiles, and UAVs. Over the years, India has developed and acquired various surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems to strengthen its air defence architecture. These SAM systems are designed to address threats at different altitudes and ranges. Here’s an overview of India’s major air defence missile systems.
Akash Missile System: The Akash system is a medium-range SAM indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It has a range of up to 30 km. Akash employs a solid-fuel, two-stage rocket motor and comes equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. It works in conjunction with the Rajendra radar system for target acquisition.
Akash is a mobile air defence system designed to neutralise attacks from aerial platforms, like aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The Akash missile system enables targets to be engaged at altitudes of 18 km. It can engage multiple targets simultaneously and possesses its own indigenous radar and control equipment. It is one of the rare indigenous SAM systems in the Indian inventory. The Akash-NG (New Generation), an upgraded version with better performance and advanced technology, has a range of 70km and enhanced accuracy.
Barak-8 (LR-SAM): BARAK-8, the long-range surface-to-air missile system, is a joint venture of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) with the DRDO. The system has been developed for defence against aerial threats, including fighters, helicopters, UAVs, missiles aiming at ships and others, and even ballistic missiles. It is applied in naval and shore-based systems. It has a multifunctional surveillance-firing control system radar. This system has a very advanced radar and control system based on a phased array radar system.
Barak-8 is a highly mobile missile with an advanced rocket motor. It is an active radar-guided missile powered by a dual-pulse rocket motor. Two pulses enable tracking of manoeuvring targets. It can be launched from either airborne or seaborne facilities. The Barak-8 system has been developed to engage and neutralise different aerial targets up to 100km, while the target is at an altitude of up to 16km.
S-400 Triumf: This is a Russian missile system. The S-400 is an advanced long-range air defence missile system. It is considered one of the most innovative and effective air defence systems in the world. India bought five S-400 systems from Russia, which will strengthen its defence against hostile aircraft, missiles, and drones.
India finalised the deal to purchase five S-400 units with Russia in 2018, and the supplies started in 2021. The system can track stealth aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. It employs a range of missiles with different capabilities, including long-range (400km), medium-range (250km), and short-range (40km) interceptors. The S-400 also integrates advanced radar systems for multi-layered defence against aerial targets at altitudes up to 30km. The S-400 missile system is equipped to track as many as 80 targets at once, thanks to its multi-tiered missile system. It comprises radar systems capable of identifying stealth targets.
SPYDER: Developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Air Defence Systems, SPYDER integrates Python-5 and Derby missiles for short- to medium-range mobile air defence missile systems. It is designed for rapid reaction and offers 360-degree coverage against various threats. The system can engage multiple targets at an altitude of 9km at a range of 15km (short-range) and 35km (medium-range). It is capable of operating in all weather conditions and includes both electro-optical and infrared targeting systems.
The SPYDER system uses two types of missiles: the Python-5 and Derby. Python-5 is an advanced imaging infrared-guided missile, while the Derby is radar-guided. This system is effective against enemy aircraft, UAVs, and precision-guided munitions. SPYDER’s quick-reaction capability makes it ideal for intercepting incoming threats within short notice.
MRSAM: In a significant boost to India’s defence capabilities, the first deliverable firing unit (FU) of the medium range surface to air missile (MRSAM) system was handed over to IAF in the presence of defence minister Rajnath Singh at Air Force Station, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on 9 September 2021.
The MRSAM is an advanced network-centric combat air defence system developed jointly by the DRDO and IAI in collaboration with the Indian industry, comprising private and public sectors, including MSMEs. The MRSAM system offers point and area air defence for terrestrial assets against many threats, including fighter aircraft, UAVs, helicopters, guided and unguided weapons, and subsonic and supersonic cruise missiles. Under extreme saturation conditions, it can engage multiple targets at distances of up to 70km at a maximum altitude of 16km.
The missile is propelled by a domestically designed rocket motor and control system to attain excellent manoeuvrability during the terminal phase. It is equipped with an advanced radar system, a mobile launcher, and an all-weather tracking system. MRSAM is an important addition to India’s air defence network and is deployed both by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army. It's a land-based version of the Barak-8 system.
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