Why India's air defence is superior to Pakistan's

India’s ability to intercept and destroy incoming aerial threats with speed and accuracy has grown dramatically over the past two decades, giving it a decisive advantage in regional air defence.

The scale of this technological and strategic superiority came into sharp focus on Thursday night when Indian air defence systems successfully foiled all aerial attempts by Pakistan as many locations in the western states were targeted.

“Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Indian Army said in a statement on X.

“The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs,” the statement added.

While both nations have continued to invest in upgrading their defence capabilities, India’s air defence apparatus has emerged as far more advanced — both in technological sophistication and operational readiness — compared to Pakistan’s largely foreign-dependent systems.

Why India’s air defences are superior

India has invested significantly in a multi-tiered air defence system capable of countering a variety of threats — from fighter aircraft and cruise missiles to UAVs and ballistic missiles.

Central to this network is the Russian-origin S-400 Triumf, one of the most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile systems in the world. With its ability to detect and engage multiple targets at extended ranges, the S-400 is a significant force multiplier for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The system’s capabilities were validated in a recent exercise conducted by the IAF, where the S-400 reportedly intercepted and destroyed 80 percent of simulated aerial targets.

According to a July 2024 report, India has inducted three squadrons of the S-400, with two more scheduled for delivery by 2026, bringing full operational capability within reach.

The S-400 can detect threats up to 600 km away and strike targets within a 400 km radius. Its radar can track approximately 300 objects simultaneously and guide missiles to engage 36 of them at once. These features offer a qualitative edge over any comparable system currently fielded in the region.

Beyond the S-400, India has developed and deployed a range of other systems to cover short- and medium-range threats. These include the indigenous Akash missile system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with an interception range of around 45 km.

The Akash plays a key role in India’s medium-range ground-based air defence layer and is deployed across several sensitive locations.

For rapid-response capabilities, the Israeli-origin SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) system is operational with both the Indian Air Force and Indian Army.

Designed for low-altitude and short-range engagement, the SPYDER system fills a critical niche in protecting forward installations and airbases.

India also maintains a number of legacy Russian systems such as the Pechora (with a 25 km range) and OSA-AK-M (with a 10 km range), as well as upgraded L-70 anti-aircraft guns, which, though initially inducted decades ago, have been modernised with electro-optical fire control systems and integrated into contemporary air defence networks.

Portable systems are another critical layer. The Igla-S and Igla-1M, both Russian-origin man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), are deployed with the Indian Army and Air Force for close-in protection. These lightweight systems offer quick reaction time and are particularly effective in mobile and mountainous deployments.

Additionally, the Indian armed forces are preparing for future air defence needs through the development of new indigenous systems. Among these is the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), designed to replace older MANPADS and offer enhanced targeting through an integrated optical and infrared seeker.

At the higher end, DRDO’s long-range surface-to-air missile project, known as Project Kusha, aims to deliver missiles with ranges up to 350 km — another step toward reducing dependence on imports and establishing full-spectrum indigenous capabilities.

How Pakistan’s air defence are lacking

Pakistan, for its part, has continued to modernise its air defence with a primary focus on Chinese technology , along with some legacy Western systems. The HQ-9, Pakistan’s long-range surface-to-air missile system, is derived from Chinese designs and is roughly comparable in architecture to older versions of the Russian S-300.

Its base version can strike aerial targets within a 120 km range, while extended variants can reportedly reach up to 300 km. It is equipped with tracking and guidance radars but lacks the multi-target engagement breadth and sensor integration seen in the S-400.

Pakistan also fields the HQ-16, a medium-range system also supplied by China, with an engagement envelope of about 40 km. Though effective for area defence, it cannot match India’s Akash or SPYDER systems in reaction time and overall mobility.

An older but still operational component of Pakistan’s air defence network is the Spada 2000, a short-range missile system of Italian origin. It provides coverage over smaller, high-value installations but is considered outdated by modern standards and may not be sufficient against saturated or complex aerial threats.

Despite these systems, experts note that Pakistan lacks the kind of layered redundancy that India has built. The Pakistani military relies on fewer air defence platforms and a smaller detection and tracking infrastructure, which could leave gaps in comprehensive national coverage.

Another major difference lies in indigenous capacity. India’s emphasis on developing its own systems, from radar and missiles to command and control systems, allows greater autonomy in both strategic planning and logistics.

Indigenous systems are easier to maintain, upgrade, and adapt to specific regional needs, and they reduce vulnerabilities to foreign sanctions or supply disruptions.

Pakistan, by contrast, remains heavily dependent on Chinese suppliers , and any escalation could expose it to supply chain and maintenance limitations. This over-reliance not only affects operational endurance but also limits the ability to rapidly adapt or scale capabilities during a prolonged conflict.

The IAF’s operational doctrine increasingly leans on integrated air command and control, allowing for real-time coordination between detection assets, missile batteries and interceptor aircraft. This was on full display during the night of May 8, when Indian air defences were placed on high alert and succeeded in intercepting all aerial attempts by Pakistan across the border and LoC.

The lack of any damage or successful penetration has put a spotlight on the preparedness and efficiency of India’s air defence forces.

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With inputs from agencies