Hostile skies can turn into a battlefield within seconds. Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, fighter aircraft and cheap loitering munitions can arrive in waves, giving air defence systems only moments to detect, identify and intercept incoming threats.&nbsp;The wars in Ukraine and West Asia have demonstrated this challenge. For India, the answer is an increasingly layered air defence architecture designed to protect critical military and civilian infrastructure.&nbsp;At the heart of this shield is the Russian-made S-400 Triumf. Russia has reportedly submitted a proposal worth more than ₹50,000 crore for five additional S-400 squadrons, alongside hundreds of interceptor missiles. The system can engage certain targets at ranges of up to 400 kilometres.&nbsp;But India’s longer-term objective is increasingly indigenous.&nbsp;Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd.) believes imported systems can bridge the capability gap while Indian alternatives mature.&nbsp;“While we are making Indian systems and some of the systems take their own time to mature, these are interim,” Chopra said, adding that eventually “S-400 will phase out and we would have had by then many, many new and better Indian systems.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

India is already constructing a multi-tiered network. Indigenous Akash surface-to-air missiles provide one layer, while MRSAM provides another. Ballistic missile defence capabilities add protection against higher-speed threats. The challenge is integration. Expensive long-range interceptors cannot be used against every inexpensive drone. Sensors, command networks and different interceptor systems must therefore work together to select the most appropriate weapon for each threat. This is where Project Kusha could become critical. The indigenous long-range air defence programme is being developed around multiple interceptor types and is intended to give India the ability to engage threats at extended ranges. Chopra believes Kusha could eventually become the backbone of India’s long-range architecture. “Kusha will come in much, much larger numbers in the long term because we have mastered the radar missile technologies as far as ground-based systems is concerned,” he said, adding, “I think we should be able to suffice with S-400 and the Kusha with larger numbers.” India’s strategy is therefore moving beyond individual weapons towards an integrated shield. In the age of saturation attacks, the decisive factor may not be one missile system, but how effectively every layer works together.

The indigenous air defence programme is being developed around multiple interceptor types and is intended to give India the ability to engage threats at extended ranges. In the age of saturation attacks, the decisive factor may not be one missile system but how every layer works together.

Hostile skies can turn into a battlefield within seconds. Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, fighter aircraft and cheap loitering munitions can arrive in waves, giving air defence systems only moments to detect, identify and intercept incoming threats. The wars in Ukraine and West Asia have demonstrated this challenge. For India, the answer is an increasingly layered air defence architecture designed to protect critical military and civilian infrastructure. At the heart of this shield is the Russian-made S-400 Triumf. Russia has reportedly submitted a proposal worth more than ₹50,000 crore for five additional S-400 squadrons, alongside hundreds of interceptor missiles. The system can engage certain targets at ranges of up to 400 kilometres. But India’s longer-term objective is increasingly indigenous. Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd.) believes imported systems can bridge the capability gap while Indian alternatives mature. “While we are making Indian systems and some of the systems take their own time to mature, these are interim,” Chopra said, adding that eventually “S-400 will phase out and we would have had by then many, many new and better Indian systems.”

The indigenous air defence programme is being developed around multiple interceptor types and is intended to give India the ability to engage threats at extended ranges. In the age of saturation attacks, the decisive factor may not be one missile system but how every layer works together.

S-400 to Kusha: India builds multi-layered sky shield

The United States is reportedly continuing discussions on allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles despite President Donald Trump expressing concerns over sharing advanced military technology.

According to reports, US officials, defense manufacturers, and Ukrainian representatives are exploring multiple options, including manufacturing selected Patriot missile components in Ukraine for final assembly in Germany, integrating Kyiv into Lockheed Martin's European Patriot production network, or producing a lower-cost version of the PAC-3 interceptor.

President Trump acknowledged that discussions are ongoing but stressed the need to safeguard sensitive American defense technology, warning that such capabilities could one day be used against the United States.

US Continues Talks to Let Ukraine Build Patriot Missiles Despite Trump’s Concerns

Iran’s top joint military command claimed on Saturday that it had used a new air defence system on Friday ⁠to ⁠target a US fighter jet and vowed it would “achieve full control” over the country’s skies again. A ⁠spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command said the country would definitely achieve full control over its airspace, ⁠according to Iranian state media. Iran claimed to have shot down two US military aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters on Friday, puncturing Donald Trump’s claims of complete US dominance over Iran’s skies.&nbsp;It is for the first time in more than 20 years that American fighter jets have been shot down by enemy fire.&nbsp;Iran showcased its ability to hit back despite Trump asserting it has been “completely decimated” and its air defences “obliterated”.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Breaking?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Breaking</a> Iran Aerospace Force has released footage showing Iranian air defense downing the American A-10 ‘Warthog’ <a href="https://t.co/qTIA6oL0iC">pic.twitter.com/qTIA6oL0iC</a>&mdash; IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) <a href="https://twitter.com/iribnews_irib/status/2040180267961213280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-bushehr-nuclear-power-plant-hit-again-one-killed-building-damaged-1775307082648">Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, petrochemical units and cement plant hit in fresh wave of strikes</a>&nbsp;Iran shot down a US F15-E Strike Eagle fighter jet, after which US officials said a pilot was rescued while a search is still underway for a second service member.Iranian state media also said that Iranian defence forces also hit an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft of US that crashed in the Persian Gulf region.&nbsp;Footage released by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) showed US fighter jets being hit by surface-to-air missiles and appears to have been captured by optical and infrared (IR) sensors rather than a traditional radar-based tracking system.The footage has high-contrast thermal images, which are typical of an Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) tracking system.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/downgrade-from-regime-change-to-find-our-pilots-iran-s-speaker-mohammad-bagher-ghalibaf-mocks-us-over-downed-jet-1775237385567">Downgrade from ‘regime change’ to ‘find our pilots’: Iran’s speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocks US over downed jet</a><h2>Is Iran relying heavily on passive sensors?</h2>&nbsp;After US and Israeli precision airstrikes destroyed most of its radar-guided surface-to-air missile systems, Iran now seems to be relying heavily on passive sensors, which detect the heat signature from the aircraft’s engines and airframe friction.An infrared system locks onto an aircraft by detecting the heat radiated from the jet’s engines by using a cooled thermal seeker, with no radar being involved. The system operator aims the launcher until the seeker scans and acquires the strongest heat signature against the cooler sky background. Once locked, it tracks the moving heat source to guide the missile accurately.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/capture-us-pilot-alive-get-reward-says-iranian-media-after-tehran-claims-it-downed-f-15e-1775229711486">‘Capture US pilot alive, get reward,’ says Iranian media after Tehran claims it downed F-15E</a><h2>Did indigenous Majid system down F-15E and A-10?</h2>&nbsp;Iran’s indigenous Majid (AD-08) short-range, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system, developed by its Defense Industries Organisation, may have been involved in the attacks.&nbsp;The Majid missile system, unveiled in April 2021, is mounted on mobile Aras-2 4×4 tactical vehicles and provides point defence against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones.It ensures stealth and survivability by using passive imaging infrared homing and electro-optical tracking to detect targets up to 15 km without radar emissions. Each 75kg AD-08 missile can engage threats from 700 metres to 8 km in range and up to 6 km in altitude at Mach 2 speeds. The system can simultaneously track and strike four targets, strengthening Iran’s layered air defence network.&nbsp;<h2>Extremely difficult to track F-15E, or A-10 with infrared or electro-optical sensors</h2>However, it is extremely difficult to track fighter jets like the F-15E or A-10 with infrared/electro-optical sensors due to the aircraft’s high speed, extreme manoeuvrability, and advanced countermeasures. IR seekers must lock onto engine heat plumes or friction around the airframe.Besides, modern fighters have signature reduction-cooled nozzles, low-observability coatings, and high-altitude flight profiles that reduce their detectable thermal footprint.Moreover, fighter jets can launch flares and decoys to overwhelm seeker heads of missiles; hence, the success is highly situational and rare.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-jolts-pak-s-ambition-to-broker-peace-says-american-demands-unacceptable-unwilling-to-meet-report-1775243605505">Iran jolts Pak’s ambition to broker peace, says American demands unacceptable; unwilling to meet: Report</a>&nbsp;Earlier this year, leaked Russian government documents indicated that Iran had signed a deal to procure 500 Verba man-portable short-range surface-to-air missile launchers capable of detecting targets amid background heat sources.Iran could also be using the Chinese HQ-9B, a highly advanced long-range missile system that has both radar and infrared guidance, making it better equipped to counter stealth aircraft like the F-35 and resist electronic jamming.

Footage released by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) showed US fighter jets being hit by surface-to-air missiles and appears to have been captured by optical and infrared (IR) sensors rather than a traditional radar-based tracking system.

Iran’s top joint military command claimed on Saturday that it had used a new air defence system on Friday ⁠to ⁠target a US fighter jet and vowed it would “achieve full control” over the country’s skies again. A ⁠spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command said the country would definitely achieve full control over its airspace, ⁠according to Iranian state media. Iran claimed to have shot down two US military aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters on Friday, puncturing Donald Trump’s claims of complete US dominance over Iran’s skies. It is for the first time in more than 20 years that American fighter jets have been shot down by enemy fire. Iran showcased its ability to hit back despite Trump asserting it has been “completely decimated” and its air defences “obliterated”.

Footage released by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) showed US fighter jets being hit by surface-to-air missiles and appears to have been captured by optical and infrared (IR) sensors rather than a traditional radar-based tracking system.

Iran says its new air defence system helped down US jets. Was it Majid, Verba or HQ-9B?

We examine the intricate technological vulnerabilities of the non-stealth F-15E Strike Eagle against Iran's heavily fortified, multi-layered air defense networks, including the formidable Russian S-300 and the highly lethal indigenous Bavar-373.

We examine the intricate technological vulnerabilities of the non-stealth F-15E Strike Eagle against Iran's heavily fortified, multi-layered air defense networks, including the formidable Russian S-300 and the highly lethal indigenous Bavar-373.

'Cat and Mouse': Why F-15E fighter jet remains vulnerable to Iranian air defenses

From Russia's S-400 Triumph to America's THAAD, here's a look at the top six air defense systems in the world. This list also includes these air defense systems - David’s Sling, S-300VM, MIM-104 Patriot and HQ-9.

From Russia's S-400 Triumph to America's THAAD, here's a look at the top six air defense systems in the world. This list also includes these air defense systems - David’s Sling, S-300VM, MIM-104 Patriot and HQ-9.

From Russia's S-400 Triumph to America's THAAD: Top 6 air defense systems in the world

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S-400 to Kusha: India builds multi-layered sky shield

US Continues Talks to Let Ukraine Build Patriot Missiles Despite Trump’s Concerns

Iran says its new air defence system helped down US fighter jets. Was it Majid?

Why the non-stealth F-15E is vulnerable in Iran

From Russia's S-400 Triumph to America's THAAD: Top 6 air defense systems