"All Systems Fully Functional, Ready For Ops If Needed In Future": India

India said all its military bases are fully functional and continue to remain so, debunking Pakistan's claims that it struck Indian bases. Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General Air Operations, said the military bases are "ready to undertake any future missions should the need so arise."

Air Marshal Bharti credited India's layered integrated air defence system for protecting military and civilian infrastructure. The senior air force officer said, "Our battle-proven systems have stood the test of time and take them head-on. Another highlight has been the stellar performance of the indigenous air defence system, the Akash system. Putting together and operationalising the potent AD environment has  been possible only because of budgetary and policy support from the government of India in the last decade."

India's Multi-Layered Air Defence System

Air Marshal Bharti credited India's layered integrated air defence system for protecting military and civilian infrastructure. The senior air force officer said, "Our battle-proven systems have stood the test of time and take them head-on. Another highlight has been the stellar performance of the indigenous air defence system, the Akash system. Putting together and operationalising the potent AD environment has  been possible only because of budgetary and policy support from the government of India in the last decade."

"The Indian Armed Forces had put a layered and integrated air defence system in place, which included the assets of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. This robust system comprises large multi-layered Air Defence (AD) systems," Air Marshal Bharti said.

The multi-layered air defence system, as explained through a diagram, shows Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), ack-ack air defence guns likes the L70, ZSU 23 Shilka, Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) forming the inner layer of air defence for short range targets, followed by the medium range air defence which includes the vintage Pechora, Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM), MRSAM, and the outer layer formed by air defence fighters and long-range SAMs like the S-400. 

Apart from the weapon systems, the indigenously developed air defence system was deployed for soft and hard kill. Soft Kill refers to jamming of weapon systems, and Hard Kill means using kinetic action, like destroying the threat - in this context, a drone - with impact. 

Integrated Air Command And Control System (IACCS) - The Backbone

India's integrated air defence system - which includes AD systems of the Army, Navy and the Air Force - was brought together by the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). Air Marshal Bharti said IACCS accorded us a "net-centric operational capability, which is vital to modern-day warfighting."

ICAAS is designed by the Indian Air Force. It is a system that the Air Force uses to coordinate, integrate and control air defence assets like radars, surveillance systems like AWACS, drones, and fighter aircraft, to provide situational awareness and efficient command and control capabilities in the air domain.

The directorate of ICAAS was established in 2003 after identifying shortcomings in India's airspace management. The request was first given in 1999 for the procurement of five ICAAS systems.

Data is being shared between the Army, Navy, Air Force and Civil Radar networks through a dedicated link. The ICAAS system, which Air Marshal Bharti referred to in the press briefing, creates a real-time comprehensive Recognised Air Situation Picture (RASP) by analysing data from different radars.

The data received from the radars of the armed forces provided a holistic picture to the ICAAS command of what the situation looks like in the air. The data was then used to deploy a weapon system based on the threat. Like ack-ack air defence guns for short-range targets, and S-400 for long-range missiles that were directed toward strategic and tactical assets.