Updated May 9th 2025, 06:20 IST
Jammu: In a sudden move to escalate tensions, Pakistan launched a coordinated attack on various Indian cities, targeting the airport, military infrastructures and other civilian locations. The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Army quickly sprang into action, neutralising the threat and intercepting Pakistani drones and missiles. According to reports, India successfully foiled the massive drone and missile attack launched by Pakistan across Northern and Western India on the night of May 7 and 8.
The Indian Air Defence Systems proved their mettle, neutralising the incoming threats with precision and speed. Mighty Indian armed forces’ successful defence against Pakistani air raids attempt has brought India's air defence systems into the spotlight, showcasing their capabilities in safeguarding the nation's territory.
The India-Pakistan border became a hotbed of tensions as Pakistan launched a swarm of drones and missiles targeting civilian and military areas in India. The Pakistani military action comes after India conducted precision strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) as part of Operation Sindoor, specifically clarifying that no Pakistani military infrastructure was targeted.
The Pakistani military on late Thursday night attempted to engage several strategic targets across India, including Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. However, India's Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) Grid and S 400 air defence systems swiftly neutralised these threats, minimizing damage and preventing casualties.
India's response to these attacks was swift and decisive. Earlier, the Indian Armed Forces targeted air defence radars and systems at multiple locations in Pakistan, including Lahore, neutralising an air defence system. According to the Ministry of Defence, “Today morning Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with the same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised.”
The attack began with an explosion near Jammu airport, prompting the activation of air raid sirens and the shutdown of electricity across the city. The Indian Air Force's S400 and Akash air defence systems were quickly activated, and at least two Pakistani F16 fighter jet, which had taken off from Sargodha, was reportedly intercepted and neutralised.
According to reports, a swarm of Pakistani drones was fired at multiple locations, including Jammu, and were intercepted at three locations - Jammu, RS Pura, and other areas. At least six explosions were reported across Jammu amid the drone attack, causing widespread panic and alarm. Specifically, the Jammu airport came under drone attack, and multiple explosions were heard in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. A massive blast also reportedly occurred on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway.
The Indian military's swift and decisive action prevented any major damage or casualties, and the situation is now under control, as per the Indian defence forces. The attack is seen as a major escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, and the Indian government has warned of severe consequences for Pakistan's aggression.
As a precautionary measure, all schools and colleges were ordered shut in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan, specially districts bordering with Pakistan.
The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have drawn international attention. US State Secretary Marco Rubio spoke to Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar about the escalating situation. Jaishankar made it clear that India would firmly counter any attempts at escalation.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's heavy shelling continued along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) after India intercepted and neutralised all the Pakistani drones and missiles.
Amidst ongoing tensions, the experts view it as a major escalation by Pakistan, particularly since India had specified that it would avoid military installations and its precision strikes avoided any collateral damage to civilians.
The incident has raised serious questions about Pakistan's intentions and its willingness to engage in provocative actions.
India's Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people killed by Pakistani and Pakistan-trained terrorists. India struck terror bases after the attack, showcasing its commitment to national security.
India has not revealed what weapons were used in Operation Sindoor. The official statement said that the Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes, hitting terrorist infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Several terror camps across nine locations were hit, killing over 100 terrorists, as part of the operation launched in retaliation for the attack by Pakistani terrorists on innocent civilians in Pahalgam last month.
India's air defence system successfully shot down drones and missiles fired by Pakistan on Thursday. India has also reportedly knocked down three Pakistani fighter jets, including an F-16 and two JF-17 fighter jets. Furthermore, India destroyed Pakistan Air Force's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), a costly military equipment.
The Pakistani drone and missile attack came for the second consecutive night on Thursday after India foiled Pakistan's bid to target 15 military sites on the intervening night of May 7 and 8. India's Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems quickly engaged and neutralised the threats.
As per reports, Lahore has been left defenceless after India knocked down its China-made aerial defence system in its counterattack. According to experts, with its missile shield down, Lahore is exposed to aerial strikes. India's response has not only been limited to bringing down drones and missiles but also includes counterattacks, punishing and imposing costs on Pakistan.
India's Integrated Counter-UAS Grid is a sophisticated network of systems designed to detect, track, and neutralise unauthorised drones and missiles. The grid defence employs a combination of technologies, including radar, radio frequency sensors, optical cameras, and acoustic detectors, to monitor airspace for any threats.
The C-UAS platform can deploy various countermeasures, such as signal jamming, GPS spoofing, or kinetic interceptors, to mitigate the risk posed by hostile unmanned aerial systems, when a threat is identified.
The grid's ability to factor in the incoming speeds and sizes of hostile drones and missiles enables it to deploy an appropriate response, such as a missile from its arsenal, to neutralise the threat. Although India's air defence systems are progressively becoming more interconnected, major challenges remain in achieving full integration due to the diverse nature of its systems.
India's air defence systems are individual set-ups designed to deal with threats in various forms, including aircraft, drones, and missiles. These systems require a multi-layered defence strategy to ensure comprehensive protection on its territory. At the forefront of India's air defence is the S-400 system, a long-range missile defence system imported from Russia, with a range of up to 450 km.
The S-400 system forms the outermost layer of India's defence, capable of intercepting advanced threats before they can reach critical targets. India has received three S-400 Triumf air defence system squadrons from Russia, with two more squadrons expected by early 2026. Other key systems include:
- MR-SAM (Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile): Developed jointly by India's DRDO and Israel's IAI, covering a range of 70 to 150 km.
- Barak 8 systems: Deployed on both land and naval platforms.
- Akash system: An indigenous short-to-medium-range defence system covering distances of 30 to 50 km.
- Spyder system: An Israeli-made defence solution with a range of 8-10 km, adding another layer of protection for sensitive areas.
- VSHORAD (Very Short Range Air Defence) systems: Such as shoulder-fired missiles and gun-based platforms like the Shilka and Tunguska.
In response to the drone and missile attacks, India launched targeted strikes on the Pakistani air defence systems, including radars in Lahore. The Indian armed forces neutralised key Pakistani air defence systems, including one in Lahore, in a precise and proportionate response. The Ministry of Defence stated that the Indian response has been in the same domain with the same intensity as Pakistan's attempted aggression.
The successful neutralisation of incoming Pakistani missiles showcases the extent of India's air defence grid deployment across Indian territory to safeguard critical assets, including air bases. The experts believed that the tensions with Pakistan also resulted in a successful real-world test of the system, showing its capabilities in detecting and neutralising threats.
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Published May 8th 2025, 20:38 IST