India, late Wednesday night, thwarted Pakistani missile and drone attacks that were carried out to target 15 key locations, including Punjab. In response, India carried out fresh strikes at multiple locations in Pakistan and destroyed Lahore's Air Defence. Pakistani reported that India carried out drone strikes in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and many other locations. The Government of India issued a press release in which it outlined that missile and drone attacks on Punjab and other states were thwarted by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems.
In case you are wondering, India’s Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and Air Defence Systems are a collection of sophisticated, multi-layered technological framework designed to detect, track, and neutralize any incoming hostile drones, missiles, and aerial threats into Indian airspace or terrestrial land border – as was demonstrated during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
How India destroyed Pakitani missiles and drones?
As per reports, India's Russian-made S-400 air defense system foiled all the missiles and drones of Pakistan. In return, India has destroyed the HQ-9 air defense system deployed in Lahore, Pakistan. It was bought from China four years ago.
The Indian Army has already deployed the S-400 air defense missile system on the borders. As soon as the missiles were attacked, this system was activated. S-400 is an air defense system that prevents attacks from the air. It is effective in preventing attacks by missiles, drones, rocket launchers and fighter jets of enemy countries. It has been made by Russia's Almaz Central Design Bureau and is counted among the most modern air defense systems in the world. A deal of about Rs 40 thousand crore was done between India and Russia in 2018 for 5 units of S-400.
What's so special about S-400?
The biggest specialty of the S-400 is that it is mobile. That is, it can be transported anywhere via road. It has a 92N6E electronically steered phased array radar, which can detect multiple targets from a distance of about 600 kilometers. It becomes ready for operation within 5 to 10 minutes of receiving the order.
160 objects can be tracked simultaneously from one unit of S-400. 2 missiles can be launched for one target. 400 in S-400 indicates the range of this system. The range of the system that India is getting is 400 kilometers. That is, it can detect its target from 400 kilometers away and counterattack. Also, it can attack its target even at an altitude of 30 kilometers.
Each unit of the defense system includes a command and control system, a surveillance radar, a guidance radar and a transport erector launcher.
Along with this, the system also has 4 missiles of different ranges - short range, medium range, long range and very long range. These can counter attack from a distance of 40 kilometers to 400 kilometers. India is buying a 400-kilometer range missile from Russia, called 40N6E. The very long range missile can attack at a distance of 400 kilometers as well as up to a height of 180 kilometers.
Air Defence System in Pakistan
Pakistan inducted the HQ-9 AD missile system into the army on 14 October 2021. It was made by China's Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC). It is a long-range surface-to-air missile system. Which has been deployed in cities like Karachi and Lahore to stop the attacks of India's Rafale, Sukhoi and Brahmos.
However, the Chinese defence system has been exposed as Indian drones have destroyed the system in Lahore.