India’s air defence architecture is undergoing a transformation that reflects the realities of modern warfare, Times of India reported.

Ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine have shown that wars are no longer short and swift, but protracted and dominated by non-contact engagements.

Stand-off weapons are increasingly used to degrade adversary capabilities, as India demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, which forced Pakistan to sue for peace. The conflict also highlighted the resilience of Indian air defences, which successfully absorbed Pakistani attacks while exposing the weaknesses of Pakistan’s shield.

This was notable given that just over a decade earlier, General VK Singh had warned of obsolescence in India’s air defence systems. Yet, even legacy systems such as the domestically modified L-70 guns proved their worth during the 88-hour conflict.


The scope of air defence has expanded dramatically. Today, systems must counter threats ranging from satellites and ballistic missiles in space to cheap drones flying close to the ground. The list of targets includes fighters, helicopters, cruise missiles and force multipliers operating far behind the frontlines. 

Airspace will be contested in any future conflict, and maintaining control requires robust air defence systems. Once seen as point defence assets, these systems now exert control over vast areas, neutralising threats from low-level drones to ballistic missiles in space. Air defence has evolved from a purely defensive measure into an offensive tool of strategic dominance.

India’s domestic air defence environment is maturing. It is built on three pillars. The first is sensors, including radars and electro-optronics.

The second is the C4I component—Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence—where sensor inputs are fused into a comprehensive air battle picture, exemplified by the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS).

The third pillar is weapons platforms, ranging from air defence guns to surface-to-air missiles. Each subunit, whether a gun detachment or a SAM battery, integrates this chain organically.

Three months after Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra during his Independence Day speech. This comprehensive air defence shield is comparable to the US Golden Dome under development and Israel’s operational Iron Dome.

India’s vast geography and dispersed high-value targets demand a robust system integrating interceptors, radars, sensors, command centres and directed-energy weapons. The building blocks are already in place.

India’s Ballistic Missile Defence program has validated interceptors in both endo-atmospheric and Exo-atmospheric domains. Phase-II trials demonstrated the ability to destroy ballistic missiles of the 5,000-km class.

On 10 and 11 June 2026, DRDO conducted three consecutive flight tests, proving multi-layered defence against long-range ballistic missiles. The challenge now lies in creating a seamless network capable of countering saturation attacks, a tactic recently employed by Iran and Russia. India must ensure resilience against massed missile strikes.

Project Kusha represents the backbone of India’s long-range air defence. Developed in three variants—M1 with a 150 km range, M2 with 250 km, and M3 with 350 km—it is designed as an indigenous counterpart to Russia’s S-400 system.

During Operation Sindoor, the S-400 proved its effectiveness by downing a Pakistani aircraft deep inside enemy territory. Kusha will provide scalable, integrated protection against stealth fighters, cruise missiles and drones, forming a national shield.

The MR-SAM, jointly developed with Israel and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited, has already demonstrated combat effectiveness. It reportedly intercepted a Pakistani Fatah-II ballistic missile over Sirsa during Operation Sindoor.

With a range of 70 km, it is a critical element of India’s arsenal. The Akash missile system also proved its worth in neutralising aerial threats. Variants such as Akash-1S and Akash Prime improve upon the baseline design, while Akash-NG extends engagement ranges to 80 km, a significant leap over earlier versions.

DRDO is finalising a very short-range air defence system, the last line of protection for vital areas. Currently, the army and air force rely on Russian Igla missiles in this role. Complementary systems such as Akash Tarang provide non-kinetic options by jamming drone frequencies.

Directed-energy weapons, once science fiction, are now reality. DRDO has demonstrated a 30-kilowatt laser capable of destroying flying projectiles, offering cost-effective defence against swarms.

Air defence guns, once considered obsolete, have regained relevance due to the drone threat. The army has upgraded these weapons with electro-optronics, enabling passive target acquisition. They are cost-effective and particularly effective against drone swarms compared to missile interceptors. This layered architecture—combining guns, missiles, lasers, sensors and electronic warfare—ensures depth and resilience.

Air defence is now central to national security. Integration is the key, bringing together interceptors, radars, sensors, command centres and directed-energy systems into a seamless shield. The Gulf wars showed that even advanced systems can fail under saturation attacks.

India’s challenge is to build resilience into its umbrella, ensuring its skies remain secure against the full spectrum of threats. This transformation requires a whole-of-nation approach, with industry, research institutions and the armed forces working together.

From quick-reaction SAMs to long-range interceptors, from electronic warfare to lasers, India is constructing a layered defence that will redefine its airspace security. Once operational, Mission Sudarshan Chakra will compel adversaries to recalibrate their strategies.

Agencies