On the night of May 7–8, the Indian Air Force successfully used its advanced S-400 “Sudarshan Chakra” air defence systems to intercept and destroy Pakistani drones and missiles aimed at 15 cities in north and west India, in what officials described as a major defensive operation that averted potential damage to military infrastructure.
According to reports, India‘s Integrated Counter-UAS Grid, combined with the S-400 systems, effectively neutralised incoming threats, and debris from intercepted drones and missiles was recovered at multiple locations—serving as physical proof of Pakistan’s attempted strikes.
What Is S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’?
India refers to the S-400 Triumf system as “Sudarshan Chakra,” drawing from the mythological weapon of Lord Vishnu, symbolising swift and decisive destruction.
The S-400 is a Russian-built long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by Almaz-Antey, capable of engaging aerial threats up to 400 km away and tracking targets as far as 600 km.
The Indian government signed a $5.43 billion deal in 2018 to procure five S-400 units from Russia. The first system was deployed in Punjab in 2021 to defend against aerial threats from both Pakistan and China.
Highly mobile and equipped with a phased-array radar, the S-400 can simultaneously track and engage over 100 aerial targets, including drones, fighter jets, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
Its four-tiered missile capability makes it one of the most versatile air defence platforms globally.
Op Sindoor And India’s Defensive Posture
The use of the S-400 comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, all men and mostly Hindu tourists.
India responded on May 7 with Operation Sindoor, a series of precision strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
While Indian officials stressed that their initial strikes were carefully calibrated to avoid escalation—targeting only terror camps—Pakistan’s attempted retaliation prompted a proportionate Indian response.
Among the countermeasures was a strike that reportedly neutralised a Pakistani air defence unit in Lahore.
Officials reiterated that the Indian Armed Forces remain committed to preventing further escalation, while reserving the right to respond decisively to any threat to national security.
