New Delhi: India deployed its advanced S-400 air defence systems, referred to as “Sudarshan Chakra” in Indian military terminology, on Wednesday night to thwart the aerial offensive launched by Pakistan in retaliation to Operation Sindoor, media reports said, citing sources on Thursday.

Pakistan had attempted to target several military installations across northern and western India using a combination of missiles and drones.

The intended targets included bases in Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Bhuj. Indian air defence forces successfully intercepted and neutralised these incoming projectiles using the Russia-made Sudarshan Chakra.

Interception tech capable of striking threats 400 km away

The S-400 systems, procured from Russia, are among the most sophisticated in global air defence technology.

They can track potential threats at a distance of up to 600 kilometres and intercept them at a range of up to 400 kilometres. India currently operates four S-400 squadrons.

One is stationed in Pathankot to defend the strategic regions of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, while another secures vital locations in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Pakistan’s air defence installation near Lahore destroyed

In a measured counter-response early Thursday morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted and destroyed Pakistani air defence infrastructure near Lahore.

Military sources stated that the retaliation was “in the same domain and with the same intensity.”

This calibrated strike comes on the heels of Operation Sindoor, which India had earlier described as a “focused, measured, and non-escalatory” military action following the brutal Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians lost their lives.

The Indian government had clarified that military installations across Pakistan would not be targeted unless there was provocation.

India vows proportionate response if provoked

In an official statement, the Ministry of Defence noted that Pakistan’s attempt to escalate the situation was countered with a proportionate response.

The ministry stated, “Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military.”

Tensions have flared following India’s strikes on terror infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam killings, marking a renewed phase of military engagement between the two neighbours.