New Delhi: As India continues Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan, its evolving air defence strategy has come under international spotlight. Defence analyst John Spencer, writing in a Substack post titled “Air Defense in the Modern Era: No Silver Bullets, Only Layers,” praised India’s ability not only to protect its airspace but also to penetrate adversary defenses during high-stakes operations.
“In recent weeks, India has demonstrated the evolving nature of modern air defense—not only in defending its own airspace with a robust, layered architecture, but also in successfully penetrating the Chinese-made systems fielded by its adversary, Pakistan,” Spencer wrote. “It’s a reminder that defense is not about what you buy—it’s about what you integrate.”
His comments came in the wake of India’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead. India’s ability to neutralise enemy defenses during these strikes has drawn attention to its sophisticated and interoperable air defense grid.
India’s layered advantage
India’s current network includes indigenous systems like Akash and QRSAM, Israeli Barak-8 missiles, and the Russian-made S-400—creating a multi-layered defence capable of intercepting threats at various altitudes and ranges. Together, they form a cohesive system that goes beyond stand-alone firepower.
In contrast, Pakistan relies heavily on Chinese-origin platforms such as the HQ-9/P (akin to Russia’s S-300), LY-80, and FM-90. While formidable on paper, Spencer argued these systems were breached by India through a calculated mix of electronic warfare, kinetic precision and doctrinal flexibility.
The article also placed India’s strategy within a broader global context, comparing it to Ukraine’s ad-hoc air defence system against Russia. There, defence relies on an eclectic mix of Soviet and Western systems—Buk, S-300, IRIS-T, MANPADS, and even WWII-era Gepard guns—to survive constant aerial bombardment.
