Track & attack: How integrated air defence grid shot down Pak missiles

The ‘integrated air defence grid’ thwarted an escalatory action and brought down missiles and drones launched by Pakistan to target 15 locations across India last night.

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The integrated grid work on two parallels — it ‘tracks’ the threats and plays an ‘offensive’ role that includes launch of missiles to hit the enemy missile mid-air.

For the offensive role, the Russian made S-400 missile system that can track and attack multiple targets is the prime weapon with a range of 600 km. This is aided by a layered air defence system that has multiple units with varying striking ranges. The Akash-NG, Barak, Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) system and Spyder can tackle targets at 100 km, 70 km, 30 km and 20 km, respectively. The ‘grid’ also has counter-drone systems, gadgets to carry out spoofing and jamming, which did not allow Pakistan to penetrate.

The S-400, known in IAF service as Sudarshan Chakra, is among the advanced long-range air defence systems in the world. Built by Russia, it is capable of detecting and engaging a wide spectrum of airborne threats, including stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and tactical ballistic missiles. The system employs a network of multi-band phased array radars that offer 360-degree surveillance and can track up to 300 targets simultaneously.

The ‘tracking’ of threats and the dissemination is done through the Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS) of the Indian Air Force. It has a node in Punjab and several other places. The IACCS uses a dedicated high-speed optic fibre cable that connects it with a chain of radars and sensors that pick up movement in air from Pakistan.

The information is relayed in real time to various air defence units, called AD in military parlance, spread across the areas facing Pakistan. Once an information is received, the incoming threats are assigned to missiles in real time and is automated.