Here’s the complete and corrected list of India’s Air Defence Systems used by 2025:
1. Long-Range Air Defence Systems:
- S-400 Triumf (Sudarsan Chakra): This Russian-built, long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system is a cornerstone of India’s air defense. It is capable of engaging aircraft, UAVs, and ballistic/cruise missiles at ranges up to 400 km and altitudes up to 30 km. India has received multiple S-400 regiments, with more deliveries ongoing.
- Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Programme: This is a two-tiered system designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles at both exo-atmospheric (outside the atmosphere) and endo-atmospheric (within the atmosphere) altitudes.
- Prithvi Air Defence (PAD): An exo-atmospheric interceptor with a range of 300–2,000 km and an altitude interception capability up to 80 km.
- Advanced Air Defence (AAD): An endo-atmospheric missile effective up to 30 km altitude and Mach 4.5 speed.
- Project Kusha (Extended Range Air Defence System – ERADS / Precision-Guided Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile – PGLRSAM): An ambitious indigenous long-range air defense system being developed by DRDO. It aims to bridge the gap between medium-range systems and the S-400, with interceptor variants (M1, M2, M3) projected to have ranges of 150 km, 250 km, and 350-400 km respectively. The first development trial of the M1 interceptor is slated for 2025, with full operational deployment aimed for 2028-2029.
2. Medium and Short-Range Systems (up to 100 km):
- Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System: A key indigenous medium-range missile system with a range of 45 km and speeds of Mach 3.5. Variants include Akash-1S and Akash-NG (Next Generation), with Akash-NG boasting an extended range of 70-80 km and enhanced Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) resistance.
- Barak 8 (MR-SAM/LR-SAM): Jointly developed by India and Israel, this system covers ranges up to 100 km and is deployed with the Indian Air Force, Army, and Navy. It is designed to defend against a wide range of aerial threats, including aircraft, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs.
- SPYDER (Surface-to-air Python and Derby): An Israeli-origin short and medium-range mobile missile system with a range of 20-50 km, utilizing Python-5 and Derby missiles.
- Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM): An indigenous mobile air defense system developed by DRDO for the Indian Army. It is designed to protect moving mechanized and armored units.
- Range: 25-30 km.
- Altitude: Up to 10 km.
- Features: Highly mobile, capable of “search on move, track on move, and fire on short halts.” It uses an indigenous active radar seeker and is designed to neutralize fast-moving aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. It’s mounted on an 8×8 high-mobility vehicle. The Indian Army is in the process of acquiring multiple regiments of this system.
3. Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) Systems:
- VSHORADS (Very Short Range Air Defence System): An indigenous man-portable missile system currently under development by DRDO, aiming for a range of up to 6 km. Development has been completed and production is commencing.
- Igla-M and Igla-S (MANPADS): Russian-origin Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems procured by the Indian Army for close-range defense.
- 9K35 Strela-10: A Soviet-origin IR-guided missile system with a 5 km range.
- 2K22 Tunguska: A combined autocannon and missile system on a tracked vehicle.
4. Anti-Aircraft Guns and Legacy Systems:
- ZSU-23-4 Shilka: A radar-guided self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.
- ZU-23-2: A towed anti-aircraft gun.
- L-70 Bofors 40 mm Gun: Used against low-flying aerial threats, often with upgraded fire control systems.
- S-125 Pechora: A Soviet-origin SAM system with a 30 km range, still operated for layered redundancy.
- 9K33 Osa-AK: A short-range, all-weather mobile system of Soviet origin.
- 2K12 Kub (Kvadrat): A Soviet-origin system with a 24 km range.
India also integrates its air defense systems through the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), which provides real-time surveillance, detection, interception, and neutralization of aerial threats. Furthermore, significant focus is being placed on indigenous development under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) initiative to reduce reliance on foreign systems.
You’re absolutely right to push for completeness and accuracy! My apologies again for the omission. It’s crucial to acknowledge the roles of the developers and manufacturers in India’s air defense ecosystem.
Here is a corrected and more detailed table, outlining the development and manufacturing entities for India’s air defense systems by 2025:
India’s Air Defence Systems (as of 2025) and Key Development/Manufacturing Entities
This table provides an overview of known details by 2025. Information regarding specific manufacturers for some legacy systems or highly sensitive recent developments may be confidential or subject to change. Joint ventures between DRDO and private firms are common, and the role of various PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) like BDL and BEL as missile production agencies is generally known. “Foreign” indicates the origin of the system.
| Air Defence System | Type (Category) | Key Development/Design Entity (Country) | Primary Manufacturer(s) (Country) | Notes |
| S-400 Triumf | Long-Range SAM | Almaz-Antey (Russia) | Almaz-Antey (Russia) | Acquired by India, production is entirely Russian. |
| Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Programme | Long-Range BMD (Exo-atmospheric & Endo-atmospheric) | DRDO (India) | Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) (India) & other Public/Private Sector Firms | PAD (Prithvi Air Defence) and AAD (Advanced Air Defence) are key components. BDL is a major production agency for missiles. |
| Project Kusha (ERADS/PGLRSAM) | Long-Range SAM (Indigenous S-400 equivalent) | DRDO (India) | Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) (India), other Indian Private Sector Firms | Under development. BEL is a key development partner for radars and control systems. |
| Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System | Medium-Range SAM | DRDO (India) | Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) (India), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) (India) | Akash-NG is the latest variant. BEL also develops surveillance and fire control radars, and the Tactical Command and Control Center. |
| Barak 8 (MR-SAM/LR-SAM) | Medium to Long-Range SAM | DRDO (India) & Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) (Israel) | Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) (India), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (Israel) | Jointly developed by India and Israel. BDL in India produces the missile components, while Rafael is a key Israeli partner. |
| SPYDER | Short to Medium-Range SAM | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (Israel) | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (Israel) | Acquired from Israel. |
| Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) | Short-Range SAM (Mobile) | DRDO (India) | Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) (India), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) (India), Larsen & Toubro (L&T) (India) | Developed for the Indian Army. BEL produces radars, BDL manufactures missiles, and L&T develops the Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL). |
| VSHORADS (Very Short Range Air Defence System) | Very Short-Range MANPADS | DRDO (Research Centre Imarat – RCI) (India) | Adani Defence & Aerospace (India), ICOMM Tele Limited (India) | Indigenous man-portable system. Development completed, production ramping up. |
| Igla-S (MANPADS) | Very Short-Range MANPADS | KBM (Russia) | Kalashnikov Concern (Russia), Adani Defense Systems and Technologies Limited (ADSTL) (India – under license) | Russia-origin system. India is undertaking licensed production through private sector partners like ADSTL for a significant portion of its requirement. |
| Igla-M (MANPADS) | Very Short-Range MANPADS | KBM (Russia) | KBM (Russia) | Older version, acquired from Russia. |
| 9K35 Strela-10 | Very Short-Range SAM | KBM (Soviet Union/Russia) | Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant (Russia) | Legacy Soviet-era system, still in service. |
| 2K22 Tunguska | Short-Range Gun/Missile System | KBP Instrument Design Bureau (Soviet Union/Russia) | Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant (Russia) | Legacy Soviet-era system, still in service. |
| ZSU-23-4 Shilka | Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun | Soviet Union | Various Soviet/Russian manufacturers | Legacy Soviet-era system, undergoing upgrades in India. |
| ZU-23-2 | Towed Anti-Aircraft Gun | Soviet Union | Various Soviet/Russian manufacturers (licensed production in other countries too) | Legacy Soviet-era system, widely used. |
| Bofors 40 mm L/70 Gun | Towed Anti-Aircraft Gun | Bofors (Sweden) | Bofors (Sweden) (various global licensees) | Originally Swedish, India has extensively upgraded these guns with modern fire control systems. |
| S-125 Pechora | Short-Range SAM | Soviet Union | Various Soviet/Russian manufacturers | Legacy Soviet-era system, undergoing modernization efforts in India. |
| 9K33 Osa-AK | Short-Range Mobile SAM | Soviet Union | Znamya Truda Plant (Soviet Union/Russia) | Legacy Soviet-era system, still in service. |
| 2K12 Kub (Kvadrat) | Medium-Range SAM | NIIP / Vympel (Soviet Union/Russia) | Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant (Russia), Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant (Russia) | Legacy Soviet-era system, still in service. |