Top 5 Air Defence Systems In The World

India is now among the top five air powers in the world. With a fleet of around 1,750 aircraft and about 900 fighter jets ready for combat, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is a significant force. To protect its skies, India has developed a wide range of air defence systems. These include both imported and indigenous systems that work together to stop aerial threats like missiles, drones, and enemy jets.

This article explains all major air defence systems currently used or developed by India, including long-range missiles, short-range systems, and mobile air defence guns.

1. Long-Range Air Defence Systems

These systems are designed to intercept threats like ballistic missiles and fighter jets at very long distances.

Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme (BMD)

This is India’s own missile defence system that works in two layers.

Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)

• Intercepts missiles outside the atmosphere
• Range: 300 to 2000 km
• Speed: Over 5 times the speed of sound
• Radar tracks up to 200 targets at once

Advanced Air Defence (AAD)

• Intercepts missiles within the atmosphere
• Range: Up to 200 km
• Speed: Mach 4.5
• Used when PAD misses a target

2. Medium- and Short-Range Missile Systems

These are used to defend military bases and cities from enemy aircraft and missiles.

Akash Missile System

• Range: Up to 45 km
• Speed: Mach 3.5
• Developed by DRDO
• Used by both Army and Air Force
• Can target jets, drones, and cruise missiles

SPYDER Air Defence (from Israel)

• Uses Python-5 and Derby missiles
• Range: 20 to 50 km
• Can shoot down low-flying aircraft and drones

2K12 Kub (Kvadrat)

• Soviet-origin system
• Range: 24 km
• Altitude: Up to 14 km

Barak 8 (India-Israel Joint Venture)

• Range: Up to 100 km
• Used by Army, Navy, and Air Force
• Deployed in Ladakh to counter threats from China

QRSAM (Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile)

• Range: 3 to 30 km
• Fast response system
• Used in areas like Ladakh
• Mounted on trucks for mobility

3. Legacy and Older Systems

These are older systems still used in smaller numbers or as backup.

S-125 Pechora

• Soviet system
• Range: 30 km
• Used by IAF squadrons

9K33 Osa-AK

• Mobile launcher system
• Range: Up to 18 km

4. Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORAD)

These are used to protect ground troops from close-range air attacks.

9K35 Strela-10

• Range: 5 km

• Uses heat-seeking missiles

2K22 Tunguska

• Uses guns and missiles
• Moves with army tanks

ZSU-23-4 Shilka

• Radar-guided guns
• Used in small numbers

ZU-23-2

• Twin-barrel guns
• Used as anti-aircraft guns

Bofors 40 mm Gun

• Range: Up to 12.5 km
• Used by Indian Army

KPV Heavy Machine Gun

• Anti-aircraft and anti-vehicle
• Fires large-caliber bullets

5. India’s Hypersonic Missile Development

India is working on missiles that can travel over five times the speed of sound (Mach 5). These hypersonic missiles can strike targets more than 1500 km away and are hard to stop due to their speed and low altitude.

6. Akash Missile System: A Key Defence Asset

Akash is India’s most widely used missile system and is seen as a game-changer.

• Made by DRDO, BEL, and BDL
• Targets fighter jets, drones, and missiles
• Can track 64 targets and guide 12 missiles at once

Variants of Akash

Akash-1S

• Range: 18 to 30 km
• Better accuracy

Akash-NG

• Range: Over 70 km
• Lighter and faster
• Improved resistance to electronic jamming

Akash vs Pakistani Threats

• Pakistan uses jets like F-16s and drones like TB2.
• Akash can stop these at long range using powerful radars and explosive warheads.
• In 2023 drills, Akash shot down 4 drones at once.

Mobility and Deployment

Akash can be moved easily on trucks and is used near sensitive borders like Jammu, Punjab, and Ladakh.
It works well with other systems like S-400 and Barak 8.

Production and Exports

• India makes around 50 to 60 Akash missiles per month.
• Deals signed include a 720 million USD export to Armenia.
• Saved India over 34,000 crore rupees in foreign purchases.