By R Anil Kumar
New Delhi. The recent attack of Iran on Israel is an eye-opener for any Country, including India, which faces geopolitical threat from the nextdoor adversaries.
Can India’s air defence system fend missile attack, does it possess the Iron dome to neutralise attack?
As India navigates its own complex landscape, the recent missiles attack on Israel, rings as a stark warning to other nations. The ballistic missiles attack on Israel serves as an ideal moment to assess the preparedness for any such eventualities.
Though the comparison may not be an even one, India faces its own security challenges from its neighbours, both China and Pakistan.
According to May 2024 Bloomberg Report, China leads the World in developing, testing and deploying hypersonic missiles.
INDIA’S CAPABILITY TO THWART ANY MISADVENTURES:
India has been heavily investing in developing and acquiring advanced anti-missile defence Systems with a mix of both, home grown systems and foreign made.
India boasts of its own Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) and Advanced Air Defence (AAD), indigenous missile defence Systems, which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at different altitudes. The PAD is meant for exo-atmospheric interceptions and AAD for endo-atmospherc interceptions.
The Akash Missile System is Surface-to-air system that can intercept aerial targets at ranges upto 30 Kms.
India’s latest purchase, the S-400 from Russia, is highly effective against a wide range of aerial threats, including, ballistic and cruise missiles.
Three Squadrons of S-400 have been delivered to India, with the remaining Units to be delivered by 2026.The Russia-Ukraine war is said to have delayed the delivery process.
The S-400 is a long range-Surface-to-air defence missile System, that can hit targets 400kms away and can engage variety of targets including fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, Ballistic and Cruise missiles and AWACS planes.
With the combination of indigenous and acquired modern anti-missile defence Systems, India’s anti-missile defence system is in the process of being fully integrated and enables comprehensive protection.
To conclude, India has made rapid strides in developing and acquiring the anti-missile defence Systems to safeguard its territory from any external threats. However, more needs to be done due the evolving nature of aerial threats and the importance of robust defence mechanisms, irrespective of the arsenal the enemy possesses.
