


{"id":78231,"date":"2025-12-16T15:48:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T10:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=78231"},"modified":"2026-02-10T13:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T07:31:17","slug":"air-defence-systems-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/air-defence-systems-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Defence System of India, List, Range, Speed, Uses"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Air Defence System of India form a multi-layered security shield designed to protect national airspace from aircraft, missiles, drones, and emerging hypersonic threats. India operates one of the most complex air defence architectures in Asia, integrating indigenous missile systems, advanced radars, and foreign-origin platforms. With nearly 1750 military aircraft and close to 900 fighter jets, India ranks among the top five global air powers. The system ensures early detection, interception, and neutralisation of hostile aerial threats across varying ranges and altitudes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Air Defence System of India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Air Defence Systems are defensive military technologies that detect, track, and destroy aerial threats such as fighter aircraft, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, UAVs, and loitering munitions. India\u2019s air defence framework combines surface-to-air missiles, ballistic missile defence interceptors, radar-guided guns, and integrated command-control networks. Operated jointly by the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, and Indian Navy, these systems follow a layered approach consisting of long-range, medium-range, short-range, and very short-range defences to provide comprehensive aerial security.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Air Defence System of India List<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India follows a layered air defence doctrine combining imported and indigenous systems for redundancy and flexibility. The list of major Air Defence System of India are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Long-range systems such as S-400 Triumph and Ballistic Missile Defence interceptors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medium-range platforms like Akash and Barak-8<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Short-range systems including QRSAM and SPYDER<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Very short-range missile and gun-based systems for terminal defence<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>1. Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prithvi Air Defence is the exo-atmospheric interceptor of India\u2019s Ballistic Missile Defence Programme.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developed by DRDO under BMD Phase-I<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interception altitude up to 80 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engagement range between 300 and 2,000 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designed to destroy incoming ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uses inertial navigation with radar guidance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Successfully tested multiple times against simulated ballistic targets<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>2. S-400 Triumph<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/s-400-missile-system\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>S-400<\/strong><\/a> Triumph is India\u2019s most advanced long-range air defence system, procured from Russia.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maximum engagement range of 400 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can intercept aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India signed a USD 5.43 billion deal for five regiments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Known in India as \u201cSudarshan Chakra\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tracks up to 300 targets simultaneously<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deployed along northern and western strategic sectors<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>3. Advanced Air Defence (AAD)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advanced Air Defence is the endo-atmospheric interceptor of India\u2019s BMD architecture.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designed to intercept missiles within the atmosphere<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operational altitude up to 30 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speed approximately Mach 4.5<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complements PAD in two-layer missile interception<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides terminal phase ballistic missile defence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Successfully tested against short and medium-range ballistic targets<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>4. Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Akash is an indigenously developed medium-range surface-to-air missile system.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developed by DRDO, produced by BDL and BEL<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Range up to 45 km, speed Mach 3.5<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uses Rajendra phased-array radar<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simultaneously tracks 64 targets<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deployed by Indian Air Force and Indian Army<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Variants include Akash-1S and Akash-NG (70 km range)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>5. SPYDER<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SPYDER is a quick reaction air defence system acquired from Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uses Python-5 and Derby missiles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engagement range between 20 and 50 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capable of all-weather operations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Highly mobile and rapidly deployable<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective against low-flying aircraft and drones<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Integrated into IAF\u2019s low-level air defence network<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>6. QRSAM<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) is a mobile indigenous air defence system.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developed by DRDO for Indian Army<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operational range up to 30 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speed approximately Mach 4.7<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capable of firing on the move<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designed to counter aircraft and UAVs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fully automated command and control system<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>7. 2K12 Kub (Kvadrat)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2K12 Kub is a Soviet-era medium-range air defence system still in limited service.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maximum range of about 24 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engagement altitude up to 14,000 metres<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Radar-guided missile system<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Used for point and area defence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gradually being phased out<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Replaced by modern indigenous platforms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>8. S-125 Pechora<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">S-125 Pechora is a legacy short-range surface-to-air missile system.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soviet-origin system<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maximum range around 30 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designed to counter low-altitude targets<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upgraded with digital radars in India<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Used extensively during earlier decades<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now largely replaced by Akash and Barak-8<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>9. Barak-8<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Barak-8 is a modern medium-range air defence system jointly developed by India and Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Range up to 100 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Used by Army, Navy, and Air Force<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equipped with active radar seeker<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High resistance to electronic countermeasures<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deployed in sensitive border areas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective against missiles, aircraft, and UAVs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Also Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/air-defence-systems-in-the-world\/\" target=\"_blank\">Air Defence Systems in the World<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><b>10. 9K33 Osa-AK<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Osa-AK is a mobile short-range air defence missile system.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soviet-origin all-weather system<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Range approximately 15 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mounted on amphibious vehicles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designed for frontline air defence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rapid reaction capability<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gradually being replaced by newer systems<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>11. S-200 Angara<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">S-200 Angara was a long-range air defence system previously used by India.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engagement range exceeding 250 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designed for high-altitude targets<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large radar signature and fixed deployment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Required extensive logistical support<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now retired from active service<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Replaced by S-400 class systems<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>12. 9K35 Strela-10<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strela-10 is a very short-range infrared-guided missile system.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engagement range up to 5 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designed for low-flying aircraft<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mounted on tracked vehicles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passive infrared guidance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suitable for frontline troops<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part of India\u2019s VSHORAD layer<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>13. 2K22 Tunguska<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tunguska is a combined gun-missile air defence platform.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Integrates missiles and 30 mm cannons<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engagement range up to 10 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective against helicopters and aircraft<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Radar and optical tracking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mounted on tracked chassis<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Used for mobile battlefield air defence<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>14. ZSU-23-4 Shilka and ZU-23-2<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are gun-based air defence systems forming the last line of defence.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ZSU-23-4 has radar-guided 23 mm guns<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ZU-23-2 is a towed twin-barrel system<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective against low-altitude threats<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Widely used for point defence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High rate of fire<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deployed near critical installations<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>15. Bofors 40 mm Gun &amp; KPV HMG<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gun-based systems provide close-in air defence against low-flying threats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key facts:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bofors 40 mm effective against aircraft and drones<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High accuracy and proven reliability<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KPV Heavy Machine Gun used for short-range defence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective against helicopters and UAVs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deployed at airbases and forward areas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complements missile-based systems<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Air Defence System of India integrate radar, missiles and guns such as S-400, Akash and Barak-8 to neutralise aircraft, UAVs and missile attacks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":77811,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[5293],"class_list":{"0":"post-78231","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-air-defence-system-of-india","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78231"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78231\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87112,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78231\/revisions\/87112"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}