India Air Defence
India's Strategic Air Defence Capabilities: How India’s Air Defence Systems Ensure National Security Against Aerial Threats
Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D’Cunha asserts India's robust air defence capabilities, highlighting successful intercepts of Pakistani threats, including a thwarted attack on the Golden Temple. Explore India's military readiness and strategic foresight.
A senior Army officer, Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, who serves as the Director General of Army Air Defence (AAD), has confidently stated in various media outlets that India possesses an adequate arsenal of weaponry, making it well-equipped to confront the entire Pakistan, whether from its borders or even deep within.
Lieutenant General D’Cunha took command as the Chief of Army Air Defence in the year 2023. He is a distinguished alumnus of the Indian Military Academy and was commissioned into the Corps of Army Air Defence back in December 1988. His extensive experience has shaped his strategic outlook on regional security.
With a keen strategic foresight, Sumer Ivan D’Cunha emphasized that even if the Pakistan Army were to relocate its base from Rawalpindi in response to an attack, it would not significantly enhance the strategic advantage for the neighbouring country, as all their positions remain well within the effective range of India’s military capabilities. In his explanations, he displayed a thorough understanding of the actions his team has undertaken against Pakistani aerial platforms, articulating the details with precision while refraining from disclosing any sensitive information.
His discourse was not one of boasting but rather one focused on the lessons learned and the necessity of adapting resources to counter emerging threats. India's military strength is sufficient to counter Pakistan across its full geographic breadth. We possess the capability to engage effectively from our borders or even deeper into enemy territory, thereby being able to confront Pakistan as a whole. The GHQ (General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army) may relocate from Rawalpindi to KPK (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) or any other location they choose. Still, all such sites remain well within our striking range. Therefore, they will have to find a very secure hiding place,” D’Cunha articulated.
D’Cunha further elaborated on how India’s air defence systems successfully thwarted an attempt by Pakistan to target the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
He mentioned that India’s indigenous 'Akashteer' system played a crucial role in intercepting and neutralising projectiles launched from Pakistan, illustrating India’s superiority in real-time, automated air defence warfare. This successful interception not only demonstrated India's air defence capabilities but also reassured the public of their safety. He praised the cooperation of the Golden Temple authorities, who, upon being informed of the impending threat, worked closely with the Army.
The Golden Temple hierarchy understood the potential danger when it was explained to them. They permitted us to deploy our artillery to ensure safety… We switched off the Golden Temple’s lights, allowing us to visualise better the drones approaching. This provided us with enhanced clarity in the sky, as the illumination enabled us to identify targets for engagement. This cooperation between the Golden Temple authorities and the Army is a testament to the unity and strength of our nation.
The synergy between civilians and armed forces, uniting as one nation, truly embodies the spirit of India. During a media briefing coupled with a live demonstration held in Amritsar, the Indian Army showcased debris from drones and missiles that were launched from Pakistan and intercepted by Indian air defence systems within the city. The Army also highlighted the use of advanced technologies, including upgraded L-70 Air Defence Guns and AKASH missile systems, to neutralise aerial threats directed at critical sites, including the Golden Temple and various urban centres across Punjab.
