India’s indigenous air defence systems—chiefly the Akash missile family and the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM)—demonstrated their combat effectiveness during Operation Sindoor. Both platforms embody significant engineering advancements, particularly in radar and guidance technologies, that underpin their high kill probabilities against diverse aerial threats, including cruise missiles, UAVs, and fighter aircraft.
The Akash system, including the latest Akash-NG variant, is equipped with an advanced AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, enabling rapid multi-target tracking and engagement. The Rajendra phased-array radar serves as the command node, capable of tracking up to 64 targets concurrently and guiding 12 missiles simultaneously, providing a robust networked defence umbrella. The MR-SAM complements this capability by covering mid-to-long range engagements with precision guidance and seeker technologies derived from India’s missile development programs.
Combined within a layered Integrated Air Defence System (IADS) that also incorporates long-range systems like the S-400, these indigenous missiles form a resilient shield capable of absorbing saturation attacks, such as drone swarms and complex aerial incursions. Their performance not only reflects the growing technological maturity of Indian defence engineering but also underscores the strategic importance of self-reliant capability development in contemporary aerial warfare.
-Kalyam Muramaganti
