The Indian Army is making major improvements to its air defense network in the wake of Operation Sindoor’s success in order to combat contemporary aerial threats, with a special emphasis on drones and swarm systems.
Lessons learned from Operation Sindoor as well as recent international conflicts like the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars, where the threat landscape has changed from traditional fighter aircraft to low-flying, electrically operated drones with few radar and infrared signatures, are the driving force behind this strategic enhancement.
The Indian Ministry of Defense has released a Request for Information (RFI) to purchase Air Defence Fire Control Radar-Drone Detector (ADFCR-DD) systems in order to improve the security of valuable strategic assets.
These multipurpose active array search radars with digital beam forming capabilities are made to identify, track, categorize, and eliminate threats of all sizes, including small drones with low radar cross-sections and fighter jets and helicopters.
Each radar system will be vehicle-mounted, lightweight, and able to provide target data to extremely short-range air defense systems in addition to commanding a minimum of two L/70 or equivalent weapons.
To ensure efficacy against jamming and electronic countermeasures, the radar systems will combine search radar, track radar, fire control system, and electro-optical fire control with Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) capability.
Operation Sindoor, in which Pakistan used drones and swarm attacks for surveillance and strikes on military and civilian targets, is a major source of inspiration for this improvement.
The cost-effective neutralization of these threats was attributed to Indian Army air defense weapon systems like the L/70, ZU 2B, and Schilka, which fired smart ammunition. However, the Army is currently looking to increase efficiency by combining these guns with cutting-edge fire control radars for improved target identification and engagement, particularly against the smallest and most difficult-to-detect drones.
For 12, 24, 36, and 48 sets of these radar systems, the RFI asks bidders to submit pricing and delivery schedules. The equipment that makes the short list would be tested in India under operating conditions on a “no cost, no commitment” basis.
This program is a component of the Indian Army’s larger endeavor to update its air defense capabilities in reaction to changing aerial threats, ensuring strong defense preparedness and safeguarding vital infrastructure and key sites.
India’s military doctrine changed from reactive defense to preemptive and punitive strikes as a result of Operation Sindoor.
India demonstrated tactical adaptability and the efficacy of layered air defense integrating heritage and current weapon systems during this operation, successfully neutralizing terrorist infrastructure deep inside Pakistan, including drone and missile threats.
The effectiveness of these operations emphasizes how crucial cutting-edge detection and neutralization technologies are in combating new drone threats, which further drives the Army’s continuous network development.
In order to create a robust, multi-layered defense against increasingly complex aerial threats and guarantee that strategic assets are safeguarded in a threat environment that is changing quickly, the Indian Army’s air defense upgrade strategy following Operation Sindoor focuses on utilizing cutting-edge radar technology in conjunction with legacy artillery.
