Double win for India on Day 2: Lahore hit, Pak missile attack rebuffed

medium121005429Indian armed forces on May 8 morning targeted a number of air defence systems in Pakistan’s Lahore and other locations using loitering munitions after the latter launched missiles and drones in an attempt to hit some military targets in northern and western India, according to the defence ministry.Most of the incoming Pakistani missiles and drones were intercepted by India’s air defence systems, which includes Russian-made S-400 Triumf, the indigenous Akash and the medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM), jointly developed with Israel.The government confirmed that an air defence system in Lahore was destroyed by India’s kamikaze drones.The Pakistan Army said four of its soldiers were injured in a drone attack and claimed to have shot down several Israeli-made Harop drones launched by India.The escalation from the Pakistani side came almost 24 hours after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, under which precision-strike weapons were used to hit 24 terror locations inside Pakistan.New Delhi had clearly stated that no military installations or civilian areas were targeted in this action, which killed at least 100 terrorists on May 7.However, Pakistan in its retaliation did not use any such filter and targeted Indian military installations, forcing India to launch a response, targeting Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Karachi, Chor, Miano, and Attock. medium nocaptionhttp://youtu.be/P_yRaHLNd_M?si=GP6HfOFcxeJeYNf2India’s air defence is a mix of Indian and foreign weaponsIndia’s multi-layered air defence network comprising both foreign-made and indigenous weapons intercepted incoming Pakistani missiles and drones targeting military installations.According to the defence ministry, the targets included Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.S-400 Triumf: India has renamed it ‘Sudarshan Chakra’. Considered one of the most potent air defence systems in the world, it can detect and destroy hostile strategic bombers, fighters, missiles and drones at a range of 380km.It is said that the S-400’s radar is capable of detecting even stealth fighters. It employs a range of radar frequencies and techniques to identify and track low-observable targets like the US-made F-35, one of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft.S-400 missile systems are now part of the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) manned by the Indian Air Force.In 2018, India signed a ₹35,000 crore deal with Russia to buy five batteries of the S-400 air defence systems. This decision was made despite Washington’s warning that it could lead to US curbs under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. medium nocaptionhttp://youtu.be/XJIweFig5To?si=Hd61NQSCGH_hV-wkAkash: The indigenous Akash air defence missile systems has a range of 25km. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Akash is used by both the Indian Army and the IAF. It can reach an altitude of 20km and can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms.The missile can engage multiple manoeuvering threats simultaneously, including drones, fighter jets, cruise missiles, and helicopter-launched missiles. The missile can be equipped with either conventional or nuclear warheads, each weighing up to 60kg.Barak-8: Jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries, Barak-8 is an MRSAM. India’s military last month conducted successful tests of this air defence system.The MRSAM includes mobile launchers that can be deployed on land or on Navy vessels. The missile is capable of intercepting targets up to ranges of 70km.Spyder: Manufactured by Israel, it’s a quick-reaction anti-aircraft missile with a range of 15km. The Spyder system includes two missiles — Python and Derby — both equipped with active onboard radar, enhancing its lethality.Their smokeless propulsion reduces visual detection, making it more difficult to identify the missiles in flight or pinpoint the launch location. medium nocaptionhttp://youtu.be/TxlrOwCIuTQ?si=aItX1n6OnjLFKD-3Israeli kamikaze drones?India reportedly deployed Israeli Harop drones to disable Pakistani air defence radars, including one in Lahore.Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, Harop is a kamikaze (suicide) drone known for its radar-seeking capabilities.It is capable of independently identifying and destroying high-value targets, particularly radar systems and air defence platforms.According to the Military Balance report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Harop is a part of India’s growing arsenal of unmanned precision-strike capabilities.Designed for deep precision attacks, the Harop can loiter over target zones for up to nine hours using an electro-optic seeker to locate, identify, and strike from multiple angles. Its immunity to satellite jamming (GNSS) and real-time human oversight give it both autonomy and flexibility in complex battlefield environments.The drones are launched from canister-based systems mounted on mobile ground vehicles or naval platforms, making them deployable across diverse terrains and suitable for fast, targeted strikes. medium nocaptionhttp://youtu.be/LmR_iQrD6cw?si=Ng9n8ybsoJ0mdlqxIndia briefs Iranian foreign ministerAt a meeting with visiting Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said India has no intention to escalate the situation with Pakistan, but if there are military attacks on the country, then it will be met with a “very” firm response.Additionally, defence minister Rajnath Singh is reported to have told an all-party meeting that at least 100 people, including hardcore terrorists and their associates, were killed in the Indian strikes launched as part of Operation Sindoor.A source quoted Singh as saying, “It is difficult to give an exact estimate as the operation is ongoing and we are collating the details. India will give a befitting reply if Pakistan attacks.”With inputs from agencies