India vs Pakistan tensions: How India used the Russian-built S-400 to counter Pakistan's missile threat

Late on the night of 7–8 May, India’s air defence forces sprang into action to intercept a major aerial assault launched by Pakistan. Using its Russian-made S-400 missile system, India neutralised multiple incoming threats aimed at critical military and civilian sites across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan.

The Defence Ministry said India remains "fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people".

"Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir today," a Defence Ministry spokesperson said.

"The threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in line with established standard operating procedures (SOPs)," he said, adding no casualties or material losses were reported.

In the afternoon, the Defence Ministry said Indian armed forces targeted air defence systems at several locations in Pakistan in response to Pakistani strikes on military targets at 15 sites in India.

Futhermore, during the evening hours of 8th May, several key areas under threat included the Jammu civil airport, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia and their surroundings. The Indian Air Force deployed its S-400 air defence systems — locally named ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ — to deflect the strikes with pinpoint accuracy.

Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retired) on Thursday said that the S-400 missile system has made an enormous difference during the recent tensions with Pakistan.

In a self made video, Air Marshal Kapoor said Pakistan tried to target 15 Indian cities, but the S-400 system, which India bought in 2018 and received in 2021, helped prevent the attacks.

Kapoor explained that the S-400 can detect aircraft, missiles, and drones and can be deployed quickly across the country. The system has a range of 400 kilometres and can track many targets simultaneously.

Air Marshal Kapoor said, "Pakistan tried to attack 15 of our cities saved by S-400, which was purchased in 2018 and delivered in 2021. It can detect aircraft, missiles, drones, and is fully deployable within minutes and has a range of 400 Kms... It can pick up targets... It is a versatile and mobile and has been deployed suitably all across the country... It was one of the purchases that made a huge difference in our latest skirmish with Pakistan..."

Indian Army confirms attack, recovers debris
The Indian Army issued a statement detailing the attempted strike, “On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks.”

According to defence officials cited by CNN-News18, India’s S-400 systems played a central role in intercepting the barrage. This marks the first known combat use of the S-400s in active defence since their induction.

Retaliatory Strikes and Escalating Tensions
By early morning on 8 May, Indian armed forces responded in kind.

“Today morning Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised,” the Army said.

This retaliation follows Operation Sindoor, a precision campaign launched by India on 7 May. That operation targeted nine terror sites — four in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) — in response to the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Reports suggest the operation caused significant damage to the camps without civilian casualties.

What is S-400: India’s aerial shield
The S-400 Triumf, developed by Russia’s Almaz-Antey, is one of the world’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile systems. India signed a ₹35,000 crore (approx. $5.4 billion) deal in 2018 to procure five S-400 squadrons. Three have been deployed; two more are expected by 2026.

Each S-400 unit can simultaneously track 160 targets and engage 72. Its four missile types cover ranges from 40 km to 400 km, and can hit threats at altitudes up to 30 km. The system can destroy aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and even intermediate-range ballistic missiles travelling at up to 4.8 km per second.

The system is fast — it activates in under five minutes. It’s also highly mobile, mounted on trucks that can redeploy quickly. These traits make it a critical tool in repelling sudden or mass attacks.

Sudarsan Chakra: A modern parallel
India’s Air Force calls the S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’, after the mythical weapon of Vishnu and Krishna. Known for its speed, precision and ability to destroy evil from afar, the name reflects the weapon’s intended role in safeguarding Indian airspace.

In earlier IAF exercises, the system reportedly “shot down” 80 per cent of a simulated enemy aircraft formation, forcing others to turn back. This performance underscores its tactical edge and psychological deterrence.

The use of the S-400 during this crisis signals a new threshold in India’s military readiness. It also marks a significant escalation in India-Pakistan hostilities, with both nations openly exchanging aerial strikes over military and civilian areas.

India’s swift use of high-end defence technology, paired with precision targeting during Operation Sindoor, highlights a strategic doctrine focused on rapid response and minimal collateral damage. With both sides maintaining high alert, the situation remains tense.

For now, the skies may be quiet — but the ground reality signals a deeper rift that could reshape regional defence postures in the days ahead.