The S-400 air defence system emerged as one of the key assets during Operation Sindoor, playing a crucial role in thwarting Pakistan’s aerial attacks. Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra (retd), who headed the Western Air Command during the operation, has now revealed that Pakistan was so determined to track down the S-400 systems that it activated spies and sleeper cells in India during the May 2025 conflict.
In an interview with ANI, Mishra said the presence of the S-400 effectively kept Pakistani fighter aircraft more than 200 km away from the Indian border.
The retired Air Marshal, who was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, has provided some of the most detailed accounts so far of Operation Sindoor. According to him, the Russian-made S-400 became Pakistan’s biggest obstacle during the conflict and forced its military to explore every possible method to locate and counter the systems.
'S-400 WAS PAKISTAN'S BIGGEST THREAT'
Mishra said Pakistan was extremely eager to determine the locations of India’s S-400 systems and used every available resource, including assistance from foreign satellites. Although he did not identify the countries involved, an Army official had earlier said China was supplying real-time intelligence to Pakistan.
He said Pakistani aircraft faced the S-400 whenever they attempted to operate in the relevant areas, making the system the most significant threat to Pakistan’s air operations. According to Mishra, Pakistan even activated spies and sleeper cells within India in an attempt to identify the locations of the S-400 units.
India has nicknamed the S-400 its Sudarshan Chakra. The surface-to-air missile system forms a major component of India’s air defence network, using sophisticated radar and interception technology to detect and engage aerial threats at considerable distances.
India and Russia signed an agreement for five S-400 systems in 2018. Three systems have already been delivered and inducted into the Indian Air Force, while a fourth squadron was delivered in June this year.
'MILITARY HAD COMPLETE OPERATIONAL FREEDOM'
Operation Sindoor was launched by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 25 tourists were killed. Mishra said the armed forces were given operational freedom to plan and conduct the campaign, with the government making one key directive clear: civilian casualties had to be avoided.
He said the objective was to target terrorists and their handlers while ensuring ordinary civilians were not harmed, stressing that India was not seeking war for its own sake.
Mishra also said the military faced no operational restrictions and was allowed to determine how the conflict should be fought. His comments are significant because the Opposition has repeatedly alleged that the government restricted the armed forces during the operation.
According to Mishra, the conflict could potentially have ended after India targeted nine terror camps, including facilities linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, on May 7. However, Pakistan responded by escalating the confrontation.
Pakistan initially sent around 14-15 drones towards the Adampur air station, all of which were intercepted. On May 9, however, Pakistan launched hundreds of drones and missiles.
Mishra said one long-range, GPS-guided drone struck a hospital at an air force station as well as a civilian office located nearby. The attack killed one airman and severely injured another person, who had to undergo an amputation. Both were medical assistants.
Pakistani forces also attempted to target civilian locations and religious sites, including gurdwaras. Following those attacks, India decided to respond with further military action.
HOW INDIA BLINDED PAKISTAN'S AIR DEFENCE
Mishra said the Indian Air Force first focused on disrupting Pakistan’s ability to detect incoming threats and coordinate its air operations. This was done by targeting ground-based radar installations and command-and-control facilities.
He said Indian forces destroyed several Pakistani radars, including American-made AN/TPS-series systems deployed in Punjab, along with two command-and-control centres. This left Pakistan effectively unable to maintain its normal surveillance capabilities.
With its ground-based radar network weakened, Pakistan increasingly depended on airborne early-warning and control platforms, commonly known as AWACS.
An AWACS aircraft operating from Sargodha was subsequently engaged by an Indian S-400. Mishra recalled that the S-400 operator sought permission to fire, which he granted. The missile reportedly struck the aircraft at a distance of 314 km, which Mishra described as the longest surface-to-air engagement in military history.
He said the strike fundamentally changed the balance of the conflict, leaving India capable of targeting locations across Pakistan while severely limiting Pakistan’s ability to respond.
The decisive phase came on May 10, when India attacked 11 Pakistani military installations, including strategically important bases such as Nur Khan and Bholari. Pakistan sought a ceasefire several hours later, bringing three days of intense fighting to an end.
Mishra also revealed that women fighter pilots played an important role in Operation Sindoor, carrying out multiple combat missions.
According to him, women pilots who had earlier carried out strikes on Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Muridke headquarters returned to conduct additional missions against Pakistani airbases and command-and-control facilities on May 10.
