On May 8, 2025, India's air defense forces successfully intercepted a large-scale aerial assault by Pakistan, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions. The Indian Air Force (IAF) reported shooting down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet and neutralizing a swarm of drones and missiles targeting multiple military installations across Jammu, Punjab, and Gujarat.
The coordinated attack, which spanned over 1,800 kilometers of Indian airspace, aimed at 15 strategic locations, including bases in Jammu, Srinagar, Pathankot, and Bhuj. India's multi-layered air defense network—comprising the indigenous Akash missile system, the Indo-Israeli Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM), and the Zu-23-2 anti-aircraft guns—was activated to counter the threat.
Akash Missile System: Developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash system boasts a range of 45–70 km and is capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously. Its latest variant, Akash-NG, demonstrated a 100% interception rate against low-altitude drones and loitering munitions in recent tests.
MRSAM: A joint venture between India and Israel, the MRSAM extends coverage up to 100 km. Integrated with the IAF’s Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS), it effectively tracked and engaged high-speed targets, including cruise missiles, complementing the Akash system's capabilities.
Zu-23-2 Guns: For close-range defense, the IAF deployed the Zu-23-2 twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns, effective within a 2–3 km range, to neutralize any threats that penetrated the outer defense layers.
