In a striking demonstration of technological dominance, India’s homegrown air defence system Akashteer, part of the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), successfully neutralized Pakistan’s drone and missile attack and facilitated precision Indian strikes on 13 critical Pakistani locations, including 8 major airbases.
Defense experts worldwide are calling the IACCS a "never-seen-before" disruptive technology, placing India among an elite group of nations with a fully automated and net-centric air defence network.
Here are the 10 key points that explain how IACCS and Akashteer redefined India’s air warfare strategy during Operation Sindoor:
1. Akashteer: India’s Invisible Shield
On the night of May 9–10, as Pakistani drones and missiles attempted to infiltrate Indian airspace, they hit an invisible wall — Akashteer, the Indian Air Force’s new autonomous defence system. It intercepted missiles, drones, UAVs, and loitering munitions with unmatched precision.
2. IACCS: The Brain Behind the Shield
Akashteer is integrated into the IACCS — a net-centric command and control system that unites the Army, Navy, and Air Force’s air defence (AD) capabilities under one real-time operational command.
3. Real-Time Multi-Feed Decision-Making
The system absorbs data from multiple feeds — including weather, terrain, radar intercepts, and satellite inputs — to make split-second decisions, reroute missions, or execute autonomous attacks.
4. Total Situational Awareness
IACCS provides a real-time common operating picture to commanders, control rooms, radars, and AD gun operators. This eliminates blind spots, prevents friendly fire, and ensures a synchronized battlefield response.
5. Operation Sindoor: Game-Changing Response
During Operation Sindoor, IACCS empowered Indian forces to strike 13 high-value targets in Pakistan, including key airbases. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Chinese-made HQ-9 and HQ-16 systems failed to counter the offensive.
6. Autonomy and Mobility
The Akashteer system is vehicle-based, making it mobile and deployable even in contested or rugged environments. Its autonomous nature reduces reliance on human operators, ensuring consistent and accurate responses under pressure.
7. Disruptive Shift from Legacy Defence Models
Traditional air defence models rely on ground-based radars and command-triggered missile launches. Akashteer’s AI-driven, integrated approach has shifted India from a defensive to a proactive posture in counter-terrorism and border defence.
8. Global Praise for Technological Leap
Experts have hailed IACCS as a “seismic shift in warfare strategy”, highlighting its ability to “see, decide, and strike” faster than any comparable system fielded by NATO or Asian powers.
9. Pakistan Caught Off Guard
Pakistani defence analysts admitted they had “never seen anything like this.” Their air defence systems failed to detect or counter Indian projectiles, while India’s autonomous response stunned military observers.
10. Modi Government’s Clear Message
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India will not be blackmailed by nuclear threats, and emphasized the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism “at the roots — across the border if needed.” Akashteer’s successful deployment reflects India's Atmanirbhar Bharat drive in defence technology.
Conclusion
India’s Akashteer system, working in sync with the IACCS framework, has revolutionized the country’s air defence doctrine, enabling swift retaliation and full-spectrum situational awareness. With this breakthrough, India joins the elite league of nations capable of executing autonomous, integrated, and multi-theatre air operations — and sends a strong signal to adversaries that the days of asymmetric air attacks are over.