Lecture Notes: Air Defense Systems - India vs. Pakistan

Introduction

• Context: India and Pakistan's mutual use of advanced air defense systems amid escalating cross-border hostilities.
• Key Systems:
  • India: S400 air defense system (Russian-made) and Akash missile system.
  • Pakistan: HQ9 air defense system (Chinese-made, reverse engineered from Russian S300).

Air Defense Systems Overview

India’s Air Defense

• S400 System:
  • Designed to counter high-speed, high-altitude threats (jets, ballistic missiles).
  • Features a tracking range of 600 km and engagement range of 400 km.
  • Made up of six main parts: missile launch vehicle, mobile command and control post, long-range surveillance radar, engagement and fire control radar, all-altitude acquisition radar, and mobile mast system.
• Akash System:
  • Targets low-flying, slower-moving threats (helicopters, drones).
  • Supersonic speeds up to Mach 2.5 with a range of 25-30 km.

Pakistan’s Air Defense

• HQ9 System:
  • Reverse engineered from Russian S300.
  • Tracking range of 250 km and engagement range of 120 km.

Detailed Analysis of S400 System

• Missile Varieties:
  • Short-range (40 km), Medium-range (120 km), Long-range (250 km), Very long-range (400 km).
• Radar Systems:
  • 91N6E Big Bird: Acquisition and battle management with 600 km range, tracks up to 300 targets.
  • Gravestone: Fire control and target tracking, range of 400 km.
  • 40V6 Unit: Detects low-flying targets, boosts radar coverage with elevated placement.
• Operational Process:
  • Detection by Big Bird radar.
  • Command and control center assesses threats, authorizes engagement.
  • Launches missiles; typically uses two per target for redundancy.
  • Mobile mast system assists in detecting low-flying threats.
• Capacity: Tracks 300 targets, can engage 60-80 targets simultaneously, guides up to 160 missiles.

Limitations of S400 System

• Curvature of Earth: Affects radar line of sight, can create blind spots for low-flying objects.
• Effectiveness: Influenced by complementary weapon systems and coordination.

Conclusion

• S400 remains a highly advanced and versatile air defense system despite limitations.
• Importance of layered defense with complementary systems like Akash for diverse threat response.

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