The principles of air defense in India are similar, and each system is designed to deal with specific types of threats at different altitudes and distances.
In a world where evolving threats continue to evolve, having a strong air defense system is crucial. Like Israel’s famous “Iron Dome”, India is building its own multi-layered shield to protect its sky from various aerial attacks. It's not just a system, but a combination of different technologies that work together. Let's break down some key components: PAD, AAD, AKASH and S-400.
Think of it as having different kinds of security personnel for your home. Some stand up to warn you early, while others are closer to dealing with immediate threats. The principles of air defense in India are similar, and each system is designed to deal with specific types of threats at different altitudes and distances.
Mat: Remote Watcher
Its meaning is: PAD stands for Prithvi air defense. The system is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles at very high altitudes, even outside the Earth's atmosphere (which is called atmospheric intercept).
What it intercepts: Its main job is to shoot down enemy ballistic missiles, which follow their targets along high arched trajectories. This includes missiles that may carry non-nuclear or nuclear warheads.
Distance from the Earth: PAD can intercept missiles at an altitude of 50 to 80 kilometers above the ground. This high-altitude interception gives more time to deal with the threat and reduces the impact of successful interception.
What missiles does it carry: The pad itself is an interceptor missile. It uses its own speed and accuracy to collide with incoming ballistic missiles and destroy them.
Its way: PAD is a two-stage missile. The first stage uses solid fuel to push it upwards, and the second stage uses liquid fuel to operate in the upper atmosphere. It combines guidance systems, including ground radar information and its own sensors to track and hit targets. India is one of the few countries to develop this atmospheric interception capability.
AAD: The closer guard
What it means: AAD stands for advanced air defense. The system is designed to intercept any remaining enemy ballistic missiles that may evade layers of pads. It operates inside the Earth's atmosphere (atmospheric intercept).
What it intercepts: Like PAD, AAD is also focused on intercepting ballistic missiles, again with the ability to handle non-nuclear and nuclear warheads.
Distance from the Earth: AAD can intercept missiles at altitudes up to 30 kilometers. This is a lower altitude compared to the PAD, which means it is the last line of defense against incoming ballistic missiles.
What missiles does it carry: AAD is a single-stage, rugged interceptor missile. It is smaller and more agile than a mat, which is designed to react quickly to bring the threat closer to the ground.
How it is: AAD uses its own radar seeker to lock and destroy incoming missiles. It also receives guidance updates from ground radar. The system is crucial to ensuring ballistic missiles pass through the first layer of defense and still has a great chance of neutralizing.
Akash: Prevent aircraft and cruise missiles
What it means: Akash (meaning “sky” in Hindi) is a surface-oriented air missile (SAM) system. Unlike PAD and AAD, which are primarily targeted at ballistic missiles, Akash is designed to prevent wider air threats.
What it intercepts: Akash can intercept fighter jets, cruise missiles, and even certain types of air surface missiles and drones. This is a multi-functional system for defense against conventional air strikes. It is not specifically designed to intercept ballistic missiles in the same way as PAD and AAD, although it may have limited capabilities for slower action. It can carry non-nuclear warheads.
Distance from the Earth: The range of Akash is up to 25 kilometers and can engage the target at an altitude of 20 kilometers.
What missiles does it carry: The Akash system uses missiles it develops itself. A set of Akash transmitters can participate in multiple targets simultaneously.
How it is: Akash is a mobile system, which means it can be moved easily to protect different areas. It uses its own radar to track targets and guide its missiles. This is considered an important step towards India's self-reliance in air defense technology and is regarded by some as India's own “Iron Dome” version, although its main focus is more than just rockets.
S-400: Long-term air advantage system
What it means: The S-400 Triumf is a long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system acquired from Russia. It is considered one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world.
What it intercepts: The S-400 is designed to dismantle a variety of air targets, including strategic bombers, stealth fighters, spy aircraft, other missiles (including cruise and ballistic missiles within its range) and drones. It can handle non-nuclear and nuclear energy delivery systems.
Distance from the Earth: The S-400 has an impressive range of 400 kilometers. It can also engage targets at very high altitudes.
What missile does it carry: TThe HE S-400 system can launch different types of missiles, each designed for a specific range and target type. This gives it a layered interception capability over the overall range.
How it is: The S-400 is a highly mobile and complex system with powerful radars that can track hundreds of targets at the same time. It has a high degree of automation and can quickly pose multiple threats. The system greatly improves India's air defense capabilities and provides protection from long-range protection.
Put all of this together:
India's air defense strategy involves creating a layered approach. The PAD system is designed to eliminate ballistic missiles at very high altitudes. If anything is managed to pass, the AAD system will perform a lower interception. Close to the ground, the Akash system can protect against aircraft, cruise missiles and other air threats. Finally, the remote S-400 provides extensive coverage with almost any air threat.
This combination of indigenous and import systems makes the sky in India safer and provides a powerful shield for a variety of aerial dangers. Although no system is foolproof, this multi-layer approach significantly increases the chances of interception and neutralizing threats, safeguarding the nation and its people.
(The author of this article is a defense, aerospace and political analyst based in Bangalore. He is also the director of Add Engineering Gmbh, Germany’s Add Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd.
(Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own views and do not reflect the views of DNA)
