Operation Sindoor: How India used S-400 Sudarshan Chakra defence system to take down Pakistani drones, missiles

NEW DELHI: On the intervening night of May 7 and 8, India used the S-400 Sudarshan Chakra defence missile systems to take down Pakistani drones and missiles fired towards 15 Indian cities, thwarting Islamabad's attempt to damage military installations.Indian Air Force S-400 Sudarshan Chakra air defence missile systems were fired last night against targets moving towards India.The targets were successfully neutralised in the operation, multiple domain experts told news agency ANI. India’s Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems successfully neutralised multiple attempted attacks, preventing any damage to Indian assets. Officials confirmed that debris from Pakistani drones and missiles was recovered at several locations, serving as concrete evidence of the assault.What is S-400 Sudarshan Chakra?The S-400 "Sudarshan Chakra" is an Indian name given to the S-400 Triumf air defence missile system acquired from Russia. The term "Sudarshan Chakra" draws from the Epic Mahabharata, symbolising precision, speed, and lethal capability, qualities that closely reflect the S-400's operational strengths. Developed by Russia's Almaz-Antey, the S-400 is among the most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile systems in the world. India signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia in 2018 to procure five S-400 units, with the first system deployed in Punjab in 2021 to bolster defences against threats from Pakistan and China.The S-400 can engage aerial targets at ranges of up to 400 km and detect threats as far as 600 km away. It supports four different types of missiles, enabling it to target everything from aircraft and drones to cruise and ballistic missiles. Equipped with sophisticated phased-array radar, the system can track over 100 targets simultaneously and is mounted on mobile launchers for rapid repositioning. The deployment of the S-400 significantly strengthens India’s multi-layered air defence capabilities, offering a strategic edge in protecting key military and civilian assets. It is widely regarded as a game-changer in South Asia’s aerial defence landscape.During a press briefing on May 7, the government had described its retaliatory strikes under Operation Sindoor as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” emphasising that no Pakistani military installations were targeted. However, following Pakistan’s Wednesday escalation, the Indian Armed Forces responded proportionately, striking Pakistani air defence systems, including one in Lahore, which was effectively neutralised.