India's multi-layered air defence system demonstrated remarkable effectiveness
on May 8, 2025, when it successfully intercepted and neutralised a coordinated
aerial assault by Pakistan targeting the revered Golden Temple in Amritsar.
This defence operation, which involved both the sophisticated indigenous advanced Akash
missile system and upgraded L-70 air defence guns, prevented what could have
been a devastating attack on one of India's most sacred religious sites. The
incident occurred amid escalating tensions following India's Operation Sindoor
strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu
and Kashmir (PoK).
It is significant that during Operation Sindoor, India deliberately avoided
targeting Pakistani military or civilian infrastructure, limiting its strikes
exclusively to terrorist facilities. This strategic decision highlighted
India's intent to focus solely on counter-terrorism objectives rather than
escalating into a full-scale military conflict. Major General Kartik C
Seshadri, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 15 Infantry Division,
emphasised this point, stating, "We intentionally did not target any Pakistani
military or civilian infrastructure".
Pakistan's Retaliatory Attack On the Golden Temple
Following Operation Sindoor, Pakistan launched what military officials
described as a "massive air assault" in the early hours of May 8. Indian
intelligence had anticipated retaliatory action but was initially expecting
attacks on military bases rather than civilian and religious sites. According
to Major General Seshadri, Pakistan shifted tactics after failing to damage
Indian air bases and military installations for about three days, subsequently
targeting civilian areas including the Golden Temple.
The attack involved unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Kamikaze drones, and
long-range missiles directed at Punjab, with specific weapons aimed directly
at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. This represented a significant
escalation, as targeting a religious site of such importance constitutes a
potential war crime under international humanitarian law.
Pakistani forces deployed between 300-400 drones across 36 locations along
India's western border on the night of May 8-9, making it the largest drone
incursion ever recorded in the region according to Indian officials. Forensic
analysis of wreckage later confirmed the use of Turkish-made Songar drones in
this coordinated attack.
Indian Army shows debris of Pakistan-launched missiles that were intercepted and taken down by Indian Air Defence systems:
India's Advanced Air Defence Systems: The Akash Missile System
The indigenously developed Akash missile system played a pivotal role in
thwarting Pakistan's aerial attack. Developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2014
and the Indian Army in 2015, Akash is a short-to-medium-range surface-to-air
missile system designed to provide air defence cover to vulnerable areas and
critical installations. The system's name, which means "sky" in Sanskrit,
reflects its function of protecting Indian airspace.
What makes Akash particularly effective is its ability to simultaneously
engage multiple aerial threats including enemy aircraft, missiles, and
unmanned aerial vehicles. The system is 96% indigenous-one of the highest
proportions of indigeneity in advanced Indian weapon systems-with over 250
industries involved in the production and supply of various subsystems and
components.
The Akash system operates through an integrated 3D Central Acquisition Radar
that scans airspace for potential threats across a 120 km radius. Once a
threat is detected, the sophisticated Rajendra multi-function fire control
radar, with an 80 km coverage range, tracks multiple targets and guides
multiple missiles simultaneously. Each mobile launcher can hold up to three
missiles, which are propelled by ramjet engines capable of reaching speeds up
to Mach 2.5. The missiles themselves weigh more than 700 kg and carry a 55 kg
pre-fragmented warhead activated by proximity fuse, allowing them to cause
significant damage even without scoring a direct hit.
The L-70 Air Defence Guns
Complementing the Akash system, the upgraded L-70 air defence guns formed a
critical component of India's layered defence approach. Originally developed
in the aftermath of World War-II, these 40-mm anti-aircraft guns have
undergone extensive modernisation to counter contemporary threats. Bharat
Electronics Limited (BEL) has equipped the L-70s with advanced electro-optical
suites featuring Daylight Television (DLTV) cameras, eye-safe Laser Range
Finders (LRF), and third-generation Thermal Imagers (TI), enabling precise
tracking and engagement even in low-visibility environments and night-time
conditions.
In 2024, BEL further enhanced the L-70 guns by integrating a radar- and Radio
Frequency (RF)-based Drone Guard System (DGS) specifically designed to detect,
track, and neutralise rogue drones. This system enables a layered response
capability, including jamming communications, spoofing GPS signals, and
carrying out kinetic strikes when needed. A particularly important feature of
the upgraded L-70 is its ability to fire air burst ammunition, which detonates
near targets rather than requiring direct impact. This significantly improves
effectiveness against small, agile drones by allowing simultaneous engagement
of multiple threats.
The Defence Operation: Protecting The Golden Temple
When Indian intelligence indicated that the Golden Temple might be a potential
target, the military proactively deployed additional air defence assets to
create what Major General Seshadri described as a "holistic air defence
umbrella cover" for the sacred site. "Knowing that the Pak Army does not have
any legitimate targets, we anticipated that they would target Indian military
installations, civilian targets, including religious places. Of these, the
Golden Temple appeared to be the most prominent," explained Major General
Seshadri.
This foresight proved crucial when Pakistan launched its attack. As the aerial
assault began, India's layered air defence grid snapped into action. The
Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS)-a robust network linking
long-range surveillance radars, signal intelligence nodes, and ground-based
air defence platforms-provided real-time threat assessment and coordinated
response capabilities.
The defence operation involved seamless coordination across multiple systems.
Long-range radars optimised for detecting low-Radar Cross Section (RCS)
targets provided initial cueing to the Akash missile systems and L-70 guns.
The L-70 guns, with their electric drive mechanism (which also reduced
acoustic signature to prevent early detection by drones), utilised their
onboard third-generation thermal imagers and laser rangefinders to track and
engage multiple aerial objects even under low-visibility and night-time
conditions.
"On 8th May early morning, in the hours of darkness, Pakistan carried out a
massive air assault with unmanned aerial weapons, primarily drones and
long-range missiles. We were fully prepared... and our Braveheart and alert
army air defence gunners thwarted Pakistan Army's nefarious designs... Not
allowing even a scratch to come on our holy Golden Temple," stated Major
General Seshadri. According to army personnel on the ground, "Some Kamikaze
drones, surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missiles were launched directly
for the Golden Temple... All the air raid was intercepted and shot down with
great precision".
Effectiveness of India's Multi-layered Air Defence Approach
The success of India's defence operation against Pakistan's attempted attack
on the Golden Temple demonstrates the effectiveness of a multi-layered,
integrated air defence strategy. Rather than relying on a single system, India
employed a comprehensive approach that incorporated multiple complementary
technologies.
The defence architecture began with long-range surveillance and early warning
capabilities, followed by mid-range systems like Akash that can engage targets
at substantial distances, and finally close-in systems like the L-70 guns
equipped with counter-drone technologies for last-line defence. This echoes
the approach advocated by defence contractors like Northrop Grumman, which
emphasises that "there is no 'silver bullet' solution" for countering unmanned
aerial system threats and that effective defence requires "a comprehensive,
end-to-end approach".
What made India's defence particularly effective was the integration of these
various systems through networks like the IACCS, enabling coordinated
responses and the concept of "every-sensor/best-effector operations". The L-70
guns deployed across forward zones, particularly in Jammu, Samba, and segments
of Punjab, were pivotal in countering the May 8-9 drone swarms.
The attempted attack on the Golden Temple and India's successful defence have
several significant implications for regional security and international
relations. First, it demonstrates the growing threat posed by drone warfare
and the increasing use of unmanned systems in modern conflicts. The fact that
Pakistan deployed between 300-400 drones in a single operation underscores how
quickly this technology has been adopted for military purposes.
Second, the incident highlights India's growing self-reliance in defence
technology. The Akash missile system, with its 96% indigenous components,
exemplifies India's push toward developing domestic defence capabilities. This
self-reliance improves India's strategic autonomy and reduces vulnerability to
international sanctions or supply chain disruptions.
Third, targeting a religious site like the Golden Temple represents a
troubling escalation in the India-Pakistan conflict. Such actions risk
inflaming sectarian tensions and could potentially lead to wider regional
destabilisation. However, India's restraint in its initial Operation
Sindoor-specifically avoiding civilian and military targets and focusing
solely on terrorist infrastructure-demonstrates an attempt to limit the scope
of the conflict.
Conclusion
The May 8th attempted attack on the Golden Temple and India's successful
defence operation represent a significant chapter in the ongoing
India-Pakistan conflict. Through anticipatory planning, deployment of advanced
indigenous defence systems, and effective coordination between multiple layers
of defence capabilities, the Indian Army was able to protect one of the
country's most sacred religious sites from what could have been a devastating
attack. This success story highlights the critical importance of developing
comprehensive, integrated air defence systems in an era where aerial threats,
particularly from unmanned platforms, are becoming increasingly sophisticated
and prevalent.
Agencies