Page 11 - The Indian EYE 052325

OPINION MAY 23, 2025 | The Indian Eye 11

In response to Pakistan’s retaliatory attack India had used the powerful S-400 air defence The BrahMos missiles are developed jointly by India and Russia. It is one of the fastest cruise
system, called Sudarshan Chakra (File photo) missiles in the world and travels three times more than the speed of sound (File photo)

BRAHMOS SUPERSONIC action, and the Indian forces were preoccupation of Russia in a war with known to have played an important
CRUISE MISSILES well-prepared for this eventuality. Ukraine. S-400 offers long-range, role in ongoing operations. This is an
India possesses state-of-the-art de- multi-layered protection against a indigenously developed (by DRDO),
he BrahMos missiles are de- fensive weapon systems, including wide range of aerial threats. The full medium-range surface-to-air missile
veloped jointly by India and the S-400, Akash missiles, fortified induction of all five squadrons is ex- (SAM) designed. It has been in the
TRussia. It is one of the fastest bunkers, electronic jamming devic- pected to be completed by 2026. service of the Indian Air Force for one
cruise missiles in the world and trav- es, and advanced surveillance radars. Presently all operational S-400 decade and has helped to strengthen
els three times more than the speed On the night of 8 May, when Paki- squadrons are fully integrated with India’s layered air defence network.
of sound. It can carry a warhead of stan launched attacks targeting In- the Integrated Air Command and With a range of 25–30 km and the
200–300 kg for land and sea targets. dian military bases, these defensive Control System (IACCS). This capa- ability to engage targets at altitudes
systems played a crucial role in neu- bility in real-time monitoring, seam- between 30 meters and 18 km, it ef-
BEL BATTLEFIELD tralizing the threat and ensuring that less coordination, and rapid threat fectively counters threats like fighter
SURVEILLANCE RADAR (BFSR) Pakistan’s offensive strategy failed. response across multiple theatres has jets, cruise missiles, drones (UAVs),
With foresight India had acquired allowed India armed forces to ensure and air-to-surface missiles.
o enhance situational aware- the S-400 air defence system from that no military bases in western and In conclusion, India’s focus on
ness along sensitive borders, Russia and some months India had northern sectors get affected. This high-precision, long-range, and tech-
Tespecially the Line of Con- operationalized three of the five S-400 Sudarshan Chakra has proved its op- nologically advanced autonomous
trol (LoC), the Indian Army has the squadrons. These are strategically po- erational effectiveness by intercepting systems reflects a significant shift in
BEL-developed Battlefield Surveil- sitioned to safeguard critical regions. over 90% of hostile airborne threats, its military strategy toward modern,
lance Radar. This portable system This system has been purchased un- including UAVs and missile platforms network-centric warfare. The effective
can detect and track troop and vehicle der a US$5.43 billion agreement with aimed at some Indian cities and mili- integration of these cutting-edge of-
movements across varied terrain and Russia in 2018. There was some delay tary installations. fensive and defensive technologies has
in adverse weather, enabling timely in acquiring this system owing to the The Akash missile system is also enhanced operational readiness. It is
threat assessment and response. expected that India’s other advisory
would also take a note about the tech-
DRONES nological superiority demonstrated by
India forces during Operation Sindoor.
hey support surveillance, tar- Dr Ajey Lele is Deputy Directer General,
get identification, and precise
Toffensive actions, and are be- Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence
Studies and Analyses. An ex-Indian Air
coming increasingly central to India’s Force Officer, he holds a Master’s degree
modern military doctrine. in Physics (Pune University), an MPhil
Such weapon systems have
been responsible for India’s mili- in Defence and Strategic Studies (Ma-
dras University), and a doctorate from
tary success in Operation Sindoor. the School of International Studies,
In conduct of this operation Indian Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU),
forces were mainly dependent on New Delhi. His areas of research in-
precision-guided weaponry and sur- clude issues related to Weapons of Mass
veillance systems. India’s offensive Destruction (WMD), Space Security,
operations were supported by these and Strategic Technologies
systems and they helped India to ef-
fectively strike terrorist launch pads This article first appeared in
deep inside hostile territory without the Op-Ed section of the website (www.
ground invasion. The SkyStriker, developed in collaboration with Israel, can autonomously locate, track, and idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
It was anticipated that Pakistan destroy targets in real time (File photo) for Defence Studies and Analyses, New
would respond to India’s offensive Delhi, on May 12, 2025

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