Srinagar, May 23: India’s newly-inducted ‘Aakashteer’ (Air Defence System (IADS), has emerged as a critical force multiplier in the country’s security architecture, playing a pivotal role in intercepting and neutralising all incoming aerial threats during ‘Operation Sindoor’ along the LoC and IB, officials said on Friday.
Two days ago in Akhnoor sector, where soldiers and officers demonstrated the real-time operations of the IADS. Ground-based radars, short-range tracking systems, and state-of-the-art anti-aircraft guns formed a multi-layered defence shield that effectively neutralised Pakistani aerial intrusions.
According to defence officials, the Integrated Air Defence System (IADS), including the newly operationalised ‘Aakashteer’ command-and-control platform, successfully detected, tracked, and destroyed multiple Pakistani drones, missiles, and fighter aircraft before they could reach their targets.
“No damage was reported on the Indian side due to the swift and precise action of the air defence network,” he said.
Officials said that the air defence system held firm and intercepted every threat. The skies remained secure while our ground forces responded decisively to cross-border aggression,” said a senior army officer involved in the operation.
He said the Aakashteer system and accompanying radars made Indian airspace “impregnable” during the confrontation.
In addition to air defence, the Indian Army conducted retaliatory strikes on multiple forward Pakistani posts across the LoC, particularly in the strategically sensitive Chhamb sector of Akhnoor. Precision strikes were carried out using advanced equipment and weaponry, he said.
The Army officer said they relied on high-tech surveillance tools during the operation. ‘Third Eye’ cameras, deployed at frontline positions, provided real-time video feeds to command centres equipped with virtual reality (VR) systems. These VR setups enabled 24×7 monitoring of enemy movements, enhancing targeting accuracy and operational awareness,” he said.
Among the newer systems employed was the shoulder-launched IGLA-S missile system, which proved effective against low-flying aerial threats, including kamikaze drones and fighter jets.
“Its mobility and rapid deployment capability made it a game-changer during high-tempo engagements,” an army official said.
He further said that recently inducted Armado Light Specialist Vehicles, fitted with Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) launchers, were also deployed effectively. These highly mobile platforms provided tactical superiority in targeting enemy armour and fortified bunkers along the LoC.
“Traditional battlefield weapons such as mortars were also used to good effect. Army units deployed indirect fire to neutralise ceasefire violations and destroy Pakistani positions attempting to provide covering fire for infiltration attempts,” he said.
Additionally, quadcopter drones equipped with day and night P2Z cameras were utilised for close-range surveillance, giving troops real-time visual intelligence under all lighting conditions. These unmanned systems assisted in tracking enemy activity and coordinating precision fire support.
Defence officials said the Army’s integrated use of advanced technologies across air and ground domains during Operation Sindoor sent a strong strategic signal.
“India’s airspace is secure, and the Armed Forces are fully prepared to respond to any provocation, across every domain — land, air, or cyber,” he said.
While no official figures were released regarding enemy casualties or damage inflicted on Pakistani military infrastructure, sources indicated that multiple enemy positions were decimated during the retaliatory phase of the operation.
Following the Pahalgam attack, which triggered India to carry out ‘Operation Sindoor, targeting and destroying terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK, eliminated nearly 100 terror operatives at key bases, including Bhawalpur—the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed—and Muridke, a major Lashkar-e-Taiba training facility.
