AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM OF
INDIA - DEFENCE AND SECURITY
News: As world raves about Israel’s
Iron Dome, how good is India’s air defence shield?
What's in the news?
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Recently Iran launched a massive barrage of over
300 drones and missiles at Israel.
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As per Israel's claim over 90% of the drones and
missiles are successfully intercepted by its air defence system Iron Dome.
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In this context, below is content related to India.
India’s Missile Defence
Systems:
1. Ballistic Missile
Defence System:
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It is a 2-tier
missile defence system.
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Aimed at intercepting aerial threat from ballistic
missiles that have ranges upto 5000 km at altitudes both outside (exo) and inside (endo) the atmosphere.
Tier 1 - Endo:
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The single stage solid rocket-propelled Advanced Air Defence (AAD) low-altitude
interceptor missile (Ashwin).
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The AAD interceptor missile is primarily designed
to intercept enemy missiles in the endo-atmosphere at altitudes of 20-40
kilometers.
Tier II - Exo:
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Prithvi Air Defense Vehicle known as Pradyumna Ballistic Missile Interceptor
is designed to destroy missiles with ranges 300-2000 km at exo-atmosphere
(about 80 km altitude).
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For higher altitudes upto 150 km, Agni-V-based
ballistic interceptors would be used (because of 5000 km range).
2. Multi-Layered Air
Defence System - S-400:
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India has signed a deal with Russia to acquire the
S-400 Triumph multi-layered air defence system.
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S-400 is known as Russia’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence
system.
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S-400 layered defence system can intercept all
types of aerial targets including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and
ballistic and cruise missiles up to the range of 400 km, at an altitude of up
to 30 km
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Capable of firing three types of missiles to create
a layered defence.
Note: USA is offering THAAD and Patriot as alternatives to
S-400 to India.
3. NASAMS-2:
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India is acquiring NASAMS-2 from the US.
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NASAMS 2 will form the innermost layer of Delhi Area Air Defence Plan that has been
conceived of.
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It will be deployed to protect vital assets and
people in the National Capital region of Delhi including President’s house,
Parliament etc.
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It renders quick-reaction
3-dimensional protection at low altitudes of 5 km to various types of
aerial threats ranging from drones to ballistic missiles.
4. MRSAM:
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The Medium
Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) is jointly developed by India and Israel
Aerospace Industries.
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The MRSAM is capable of neutralising enemy aerial
threats, such as missiles, aircraft, helicopters and guided bombs.
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It has different variations for use by the army,
navy, and air force.
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The Indian Army has two units of MRSAM, which is
the domestic variant of the Israel-developed Barak-8 SAM (surface-to-air missile) System, to deal with potential
threats from the China and Pakistan borders in the form of unmanned aerial
vehicles, fighter aircraft and cruise missiles.
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The MRSAM is a high-response, quick-reaction,
vertically-launched supersonic missile
system.
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It weighs 275 kilos and has a range of 70 km.
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It has dual guidance (command and active radar
seeker), TVC (thrust vector control) and aerodynamic control, and dual pulse
propulsion with a solid motor.
5. Igla-S:
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The Indian Army recently received the first batch
of 24 Russian-made Igla-S Man Portable
Air Defence Systems (MANPADS), along with 100 missiles.
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Igla-S is a hand-held anti-aircraft missile that
will bolster the army’s combat capabilities in various sensitive locations.
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It can be fired by an individual or crew to bring
down enemy aircraft.