Indigenous weapon systems highly effective, says Centre, Pg13

India’s indigenous weapon systems proved highly effective during Operation Sindoor, especially against Chinese and Turkish-origin systems used by Pakistan.

• Indigenous Akash surface-to-air missiles, Akashteer battlefield management system, and IACCS played key roles in intercepting enemy drones and missiles.

• All strikes were executed without loss of Indian assets, showcasing the effectiveness of Indian defence infrastructure.

Detailed Insights:

1. Performance of Indigenous Systems:

• Akash missiles successfully countered Pakistan’s HQ-9 SAMs and neutralised precision-guided threats.

• The Indian Air Force completed missions in just 23 minutes, including jamming of Pakistan’s air defence systems.

• Akashteer, developed by BEL, enabled real-time coordination and ground-based defence system integration.

• IACCS facilitated advanced decision-making and electronic warfare integration.

2. Effectiveness Against Drone Warfare:

• Pakistan launched hundreds of UAVs, drones, and loitering munitions, most of which were intercepted or neutralised.

• Only a few made impact, showing India’s strong air defence grid.

• India’s system proved robust even against foreign-supplied high-speed weapons.

3. Strategic and Economic Value:

• India’s defence export value grew 34x over a decade, from ₹686 crore (2013–14) to ₹23,622 crore (2024–25).

• Global interest is rising in Akash, BrahMos, and Akashteer systems from Southeast Asia, West Asia, and Africa.

4. Technological Edge:

• Operation Sindoor tested India's ability to:

• Defend airspace

• Counter drone swarms

• Deploy electronic warfare

• Recovered enemy tech included Turkish-origin drones, PL-5 air-to-air missiles, and Chinese launchers.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Akash Missile System: Medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile for neutralising aerial threats.

• Akashteer: Indigenous automated command-and-control system for air defence.

• IACCS: Integrates radar and surveillance data for quick reaction air defence decisions.

Significance:

• Validates Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.

• Enhances India’s credibility as a defence exporter and boosts self-reliance.

• Demonstrates ability to conduct modern, hybrid warfare with minimal external dependency.

• Reinforces strategic posture along Western borders while providing a template for future air defence engagements.

Mains Mock Question:

Discuss the strategic importance of indigenous weapon systems like Akash and Akashteer in enhancing India’s defence preparedness. How do they contribute to India’s goal of self-reliance in defence technology?