In the contemporary global security landscape, air defence systems play a pivotal role in safeguarding nations against aerial threats. For the IAF, with its diverse operational requirements and geopolitical challenges, maintaining a robust air defence system is of paramount importance.
Top 5 Air Defence Missile System of India
Sudarshan
The IAF has acquired three squadrons of S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia, naming them Sudarshan after Lord Krishna’s Sudarshan chakra weapon. The S-400 has a range of up to 400 km, at an altitude of up to 30 km and can engage up to 36 targets simultaneously, with four different types of missiles. It is the most dangerous operationally deployed modern long-range SAM (MLR SAM) in the world, considered much ahead of the US-developed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD). India decided to procure the S-400 missiles to enhance its air defence capabilities and deterrence posture against China and Pakistan, which have been modernizing and expanding their air forces and missile arsenals.
Operational range
400 km (250 mi) – 40N6E missile
150 km (93 mi) – 48N6(E) missile
200 km (120 mi) – 48N6M(E2) missile
240 km (150 mi) – 48N6DM(E3) missile
40 km (25 mi) – 9M96 missile
120 km (75 mi) – 9M96M(E2)) missile
Akash
Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile system developed by the DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited. Surveillance and Fire control radar, tactical control and command center and missile launcher are developed by Bharat Electronics (BEL), Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division and Larsen & Toubro.
Operational range
25 km – 30 km (19 mi)
Flight ceiling:20 km
Flight altitude: 18 km
Maximum speed: Mach 1.8 to 2.5
SAMAR Air Defence System
The Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation, or SAMAR is a short range, quick reaction surface-to-air missile system.
•The system is credited with a maximum range of 10–12 km and is used against low-flying aerial targets.
•It can engage aerial threats with missiles operating at a speed range of 2 to 2.5 Mach.
•The SAMAR-1 system uses the IAF’s existing inventory of shelf-life-expired Russian Vympel R-73E infrared‐guided air-to-air missiles for the surface-to-air role.
IAF’s Pechora Missile
S-125 Pechora is a Soviet-made surface-to-air missile system. This system has served as the Indian Air Force’s primary means of air defence for a very long period.
| Designer | Almaz Central Design Bureau |
| Maximum Speed | 3 to 3.5 Mach |
| Maximum Target Altitude | Less than 20 Km |
| Operational Range | 30 Kms |
| Strength | 25 Squadrons |
IAF’s SPYDER
The SPYDER (“Surface-to-air Python and Derby”) is an Israeli short and medium range mobile air defence system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with assistance from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Rafael is the prime contractor and IAI is the major subcontractor for the SPYDER program.
Operational range
Python-5: 20 km
Derby: 50 km
Flight altitude: Python-5: 9,000 m
Derby: 16,000 m
Maximum speed: Mach 4
