India’s air defence capability has grown rapidly in recent years, positioning the country among the top five air powers in the world. With a fleet of approximately 1,750 aircraft, including around 900 fighter jets, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has transformed itself into a formidable force capable of defending against both aerial and ballistic threats.
But what exactly is a ballistic missile?
A ballistic missile is a projectile weapon that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flight path to deliver one or more warheads to a predetermined target. These missiles are launched directly into the upper layers of the atmosphere and then descend towards their target solely under the influence of gravity. Ballistic missiles can be launched from land, air, sea, or submarine platforms and are categorized based on their range: short-range, medium-range, intermediate-range, and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
To defend against such threats, India has developed an advanced multi-layered ballistic missile defence (BMD) system, which includes:
I. Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme
i) Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) Missile
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Type: Exo-atmospheric interceptor
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Interception Altitude: Up to 80 km
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Speed: Mach 5+
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Guidance: Inertial navigation with radar homing
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Capability: Destroys ballistic missiles in the outer atmosphere
ii) Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Missile
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Type: Endo-atmospheric interceptor
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Range: Up to 200 km
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Interception Altitude: 30 km
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Speed: Mach 4.5
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Capability: Neutralizes missiles that penetrate the outer layer
These systems are designed to detect, track, and eliminate incoming ballistic threats before they can hit their intended targets.
II. Medium and Short-Range Defence Systems
India uses a variety of Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) systems for close-range interception:
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Akash: Up to 45 km range
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Barak 8 (developed with Israel): 100 km range
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SPYDER (Israeli): Short-range quick-reaction system
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QRSAM: 30 km range; mobile and suited for forward areas
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2K12 Kub, Pechora: Soviet-era systems still in use
III. Ultra-Close Defence: VSHORAD and Guns
India’s last line of defence includes:
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Strela-10, Tunguska, Shilka: Mobile SAM and radar-guided gun systems
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ZU-23-2, Bofors 40 mm, KPV Heavy Machine Gun: Deployed with infantry units
IV. Strategic Systems and Partnerships
India has already procured S-400 Triumph systems from Russia, capable of intercepting threats up to 400 km away. It is also developing indigenous solutions like Akash-NG and fast-tracking the deployment of hypersonic missile technologies.
As tensions rise in the region and the threat from hostile neighbours persists, India’s commitment to a layered and responsive air defence grid underscores its shift from being a regional power to a global military force.
