What Is The S-400 Missile Defence System That India Used To Destroy Pakistan’s Air Defence In Lahore?

In a dramatic escalation of cross-border tensions, India's armed forces struck and neutralised Pakistan's air defence systems in Lahore, deploying cutting-edge technology and precision weaponry in response to a series of attempted attacks on Indian military installations. The S-400 missile defence system, aka Sudarshan Chakra, one of the world's most advanced air defence platforms, played a pivotal role in India's counteroffensive.

High-Stakes Retaliation

Late on May 7 and into the early hours of May 8, Pakistan launched a barrage of drones and missiles targeting military sites across northern and western India, including Jammu, Amritsar, Rajasthan and Gujarat. India's response was swift and decisive. Leveraging the formidable capabilities of the Russia-made S-400 system, Indian forces intercepted and destroyed the incoming threats.

But the counterattack did not stop at defence. Indian forces, operating with precision and restraint, targeted Pakistani air defence radars and systems at multiple locations. The most significant blow landed in Lahore, where India successfully destroyed a key air defence installation, crippling Pakistan's ability to retaliate from that sector.

S-400 — The Power Behind India's Defence

The S-400 missile defence system, developed by Russia's Almaz-Antey, is renowned for its ability to track and eliminate a wide array of aerial threats, from stealth fighter jets and bombers to cruise and ballistic missiles. With its advanced radar systems capable of detecting targets up to 400 kilometres away and engaging up to 80 targets simultaneously, the S-400 is a technological marvel that offers rapid deployment and multi-layered protection.

Here is all about the S-400 (Sudarshan Chakra) missile system: 

  • The S-400 is a mobile long-range surface-to-air missile system.
  • It has the capability to shoot down a range of aerial targets, including stealth fighter jets, bombers, cruise and ballistic missiles and even unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
  • It has two radar systems, which can detect aerial targets up to a distance of 600 kilometres and can target up to 80 aerial targets simultaneously.
  • The system can be assembled within about 15 minutes when moved to a different location and can be prepared to fire within 3 minutes.
  • It has a jam-resistant panoramic radar system for target detection and has missile launching stations (4 barrels/stations) with different types of missiles and a few launchers.
  • Along with India and Russia, China, Turkey, and Belarus use the system

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