The Indian Air Force successfully countered coordinated drone and missile attacks from Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, a conflict detailed in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report 2025–26. Utilizing its Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and advanced air-defense assets like the S-400 and Shaurya, India maintained air superiority and neutralized threats.

The Indian Air Force successfully countered coordinated drone and missile attacks from Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, a conflict detailed in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report 2025–26. Utilizing its Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and advanced air-defense assets like the S-400 and Shaurya, India maintained air superiority and neutralized threats.

The Indian Air Force successfully countered coordinated drone and missile attacks from Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, a conflict detailed in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report 2025–26. Utilizing its Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and advanced air-defense assets like the S-400 and Shaurya, India maintained air superiority and neutralized threats.

When Pakistan escalated the last year's four-day conflict with India by deciding to launch "coordinated drone and missile attacks" against military installations in Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Integrated Air Command and Control System successfully thwarted them by coordinating various air-defence assets.

The IAF’s advanced air-defence systems, including the S-400 and the Shaurya, successfully neutralised multiple Pakistani aircraft, apart from intercepting drones, missiles, UAVs, and loitering munitions. Thus, India was able to maintain air superiority and restrict the operational freedom of the Pakistan Air Force, the Ministry of Defence said in its Annual Report 2025–26.

The details of India's air-defence operations during Operation Sindoor were elaborated in the Annual Report in the chapter on the Indian Air Force. Under the sub-heading "Role of the IAF in Operation Sindoor", the document narrated how the IAF countered Islamabad's desperate attempts to respond to Indian attacks.

The Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) enabled real-time coordination, helping neutralise aerial threats and sustain net-centric operations throughout the four-day conflict. "The IAF exercised control and coordination over integrated air defence operations through its indigenous IACCS, which serves as the foundational framework for integrated air defence operations. This setup worked exceedingly well during the four-day conflict and performed as expected," the report said.

READ THE REPORT IN FULL HERE

The report accused Pakistan of trying to use civil aviation aircraft for cover while engaging in "hostile action". It was irresponsible on Pakistan's part to keep its airspace open while exchanging fire, it added. In contrast, India followed a measured approach to ensure that there was no risk to international air traffic.

As per the 'Highlights' mentioned in the report:

  • The entire operation was centrally controlled by the Indian Air Force (IAF) through its IACCS Networked Tactical Nodes (NTNs) located at multiple places.
  • The IAF NTNs played an important role in identifying and classifying aerial targets.
  • The IAF’s trained and skilled NTN operators ensured that no civil aircraft in Pakistani territory suffered collateral damage.
  • A layered air defence grid, including the indigenously developed Akash missile system along with Pechora and OSA-AK platforms, was deployed effectively.

India-Pakistan tensions 2025

India launched Operation Sindoor, a military campaign against terrorist hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in May in retaliation for the Pahalgam massacre. The attack sparked a brief but intense military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours, with Pakistan launching a drone strike on India.

The Indian forces hit back, inflicting heavy damage on several military installations and airbases inside Pakistan.

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