India's air defence network effectively stopped almost all Pakistani projectiles
How did India hit 13 targets including eight airbases at strategic locations in Pakistan so precisely? How did Pakistan fail so miserably? These questions have left experts around the world looking for answers. The government shared some insights.
The IACCS explained in 10 points
- On the intervening night of May 9 and 10, when Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks on Indian military and civilian areas, they met the homegrown impenetrable wall of self-defence called the 'Akashteer' system. It is part of the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) designed by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IACCS was the tip of the spear in the air defence (AD) component of Operation Sindoor.
- India's integrated AD system - which includes AD systems of the army, navy and the air force - was brought together by the IACCS, which gave the forces a net-centric operational capability, vital to modern-day warfighting.
- The IAF uses the IACCS to coordinate, integrate and control air defence assets like radars, surveillance systems like AWACS, drones, and fighter aircraft, to provide situational awareness and efficient command and control capabilities in the air domain.
- The Akashteer stopped Pakistani inbound airborne drones, missiles, micro UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and other loitering munitions. It prevented them from entering Indian airspace. A disruptive element of the IACCS is its ability to absorb data from multiple feeds - weather, terrain and radar intercepts to make real-time decisions, reroute missions, and execute attacks autonomously. Pakistan defence experts have said they have never seen anything like this before.
- The Akashteer is also a completely homegrown product showcasing India's Atmanirbhar Bharat prowess. Compared to Akashteer, Pakistan's air defence (AD) network consists of Chinese-origin HQ-9 and HQ-16. They failed to intercept Indian projectiles spectacularly.
- Akashteer is a fully autonomous defence system. It provides a common, real-time picture to all involved parties (control room, radars, and air-defence guns), enabling coordinated AD operations. It is a system designed to automate detection, tracking and engagement of enemy aircraft, drones and missiles.
- Traditional models of AD rely heavily on ground-based radars, human-monitored systems, and surface-to-air missile batteries triggered by command chains. IACCS breaks that mould as its technology allows for monitoring of low-level airspace in battle areas and efficient control of ground-based AD weapon systems. It adds a new chapter to India's strategic doctrine indicating a shift from defensive posturing to proactive retaliation against terror threats.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that India cannot be blackmailed by nuclear-armed Pakistan and, if need be, India would retaliate to root out terrorism from inside their territory. Akashteer's presence in India's military assets gives confidence of a clear edge over the terror-sponsoring state's AD capabilities.
- Experts across the world are now terming IACCS as "a seismic shift in warfare strategy". With this. India has joined the elite club of nations with fully automated and integrated AD C&R capability. In one line, IACCS has demonstrated that it sees, decides, and strikes faster than anything the world has fielded.
- The Akashteer system is also vehicle-based, which makes it mobile and easier to handle in hostile environments. The integration of multiple elements reduces the possibility of friendly fire, enabling quick engagement of hostile targets and guarantees safety to friendly aircraft in contested airspace.
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