India’s Akashteer System proves a Game-Changer in Operation Sindoor 2025, strengthening air defence Capabilities. Akashteer provides real-time situational awareness and command and control capabilities for Air defense operations
Operation Sindoor: India’s Decisive Response to Pahalgam Terror Incident
Following the terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025, the Indian Armed Forces launched a decisive and coordinated military response against Pakistan-based terror infrastructure. On the intervening night of 6–7 May 2025, India carried out precision strikes on nine terrorist camps and launch pads located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), using precision-guided munitions. India ensured that there was no collateral damage, and it was so directed that it was only those places where terrorists were housed.
Pakistan’s Retaliatory Offensive
In retaliation, Pakistan initiated a large-scale aerial offensive targeting both civilian and military infrastructure across a wide arc—from Tangdhar in Jammu & Kashmir to Nalia in Gujarat. The offensive included the use of missiles, armed drones, and fighter jets, aiming to overwhelm India’s defensive grid.
India’s Preparedness and Technological Edge
India, anticipating such misadventures, was well-prepared. The country’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) played a pivotal role in countering the aerial threats. This automated command and control network integrates inputs from the Army, Navy, and Air Force to deliver a unified and real-time air defence capability.
Air Marshal A.K. Bharti highlighted the significance of IACCS, stating that it provided India with a “net-centric operational capability, vital to modern-day warfare.”
Akashteer: The Centrepiece of Ground-Based Air Defence
A standout feature of India’s response was the Akashteer air defence control system, developed indigenously by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) at a cost of ₹1,982 crore. Inducted only a year ago, Akashteer proved to be the backbone of India’s ground-based air defence during the military confrontations from 7 to 10 May.
Operated by the Army Air Defence Corps (ADC), Akashteer combines hardware and software components within mobile command posts. These are equipped with high-tech communication systems and provide real-time situational awareness. Akashteer allowed ground units to visualize the complete aerial battle picture and respond swiftly and in a coordinated manner.
So far, 107 out of 400 planned Akashteer command and control centers have been delivered to the Army. The system successfully detected and neutralized 100% of incoming aerial threats, including missiles and drones targeting key Indian military installations and civilian areas.
Network-Centric Warfare: The New Paradigm
The Indian Air Force began transitioning to a network-centric warfare model in 2010 with the induction of the Air Force Network (AFNET), forming the foundation of the IACCS. This doctrine emphasizes a shortened sensor-to-shooter loop—from target detection to neutralization—enabled through seamless integration of:
- Ground-based, airborne, and space-based systems
- Operational Data Links (ODL)
- SATCOM (Satellite Communications)
- Software Defined Radios (SDR)
This integration is achieved through interlinking systems like Akashteer (Army), Trigun (Navy), and IACCS (Air Force). It was a synchronised and seamless coordinated operation against an aerial attack by Pakistan
Repelling the Pakistani Assault
On the nights of 7–8 May and 9–10 May, Pakistan launched waves of drones and missiles targeting strategic Indian military locations, including:
- Jammu & Kashmir: Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu
- Punjab: Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda
- Chandigarh and Rajasthan: Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai
- Gujarat: Bhuj
Despite the scale and intensity, India’s layered air defence systems successfully thwarted every attempt to breach its airspace, showcasing high levels of coordination and efficiency. India stands out in network-centric warfare.
A Technological Milestone
Operation Sindoor marks a significant milestone in India’s evolution toward technological self-reliance in warfare. Whether in drone countermeasures, multi-layered air defence, or electronic warfare, the operation highlighted the Indian Armed Forces’ growing capability to conduct modern, network-enabled warfare.
