S-400 valued at $1.5 billion, considered a cornerstone of India’s defence network
Pakistan’s Air Force, using JF-17 Thunder jets equipped with hypersonic missiles, has destroyed India’s S-400 air defence system stationed in Adampur, according to official reports.
The S-400, purchased from Russia in 2018 and worth roughly $1.5 billion, is considered one of India’s most advanced military assets. It is a mobile, long-range surface-to-air missile system designed to intercept aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles at distances up to 400 km. The Adampur installation was one of three operational squadrons out of five total units India had deployed.
Part of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos
The attack was part of Pakistan’s broader Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, a military retaliation following recent Indian strikes on Pakistani mosques and civilian areas.
In addition to the S-400 strike, Pakistan announced it had also destroyed key Indian military targets, including:
- BrahMos missile storage in Beas
- Airbases in Udhampur, Suratgarh, and Pathankot
- Artillery positions in Dehrangyari
Escalating Tensions
Tensions between the two countries intensified after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 people dead. India blamed Pakistan-linked groups, though Islamabad firmly denied the accusations, calling them baseless.
Following the incident, India closed the Wagah land border, revoked Pakistani visas, and suspended the Indus Waters Treaty on April 23. Pakistan called the treaty’s suspension an “act of war” and closed the Wagah border crossing from its side.
Pakistan’s Retaliation
On May 6 and 7, several Pakistani cities, including Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Muridke, and Bahawalpur, were hit by explosions from Indian airstrikes. Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed the strikes and announced Pakistan’s robust response under Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos.
Within the first hour of retaliation, Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, including four Rafale aircraft. Lt. Gen. Chaudhry added that Pakistan had the capability to down even more but chose to exercise restraint. While Indian media gave minimal coverage, CNN reported confirmation from a senior French intelligence official about the loss of one Rafale — marking the aircraft’s first-ever combat loss.
Additional Strikes and Interceptions
Pakistan’s military also reported intercepting and neutralising 77 Israeli-made Harop drones allegedly launched by India. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), these drones were brought down using a combination of electronic warfare and conventional air defence systems. ISPR described India’s drone attacks as “a desperate and panicked response” to Pakistan’s operations.
Security officials stated that Pakistan’s military is specifically targeting bases identified as launch points for attacks on civilians and religious sites. Additionally, Pakistan confirmed the launch of its Al-Fatah missile during the operation, dedicating it to the children killed in recent Indian strikes.
