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In a powerful demonstration of strength and preparedness, India’s advanced air defence systems successfully thwarted a major threat from Pakistan, potentially saving one of the nation’s most revered sites — the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
The Threat Unfolds
In early May 2025, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply following a series of cross-border strikes initiated by India under Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Jammu & Kashmir (POJK). In retaliation, Pakistan launched aerial assaults aimed at both military and civilian locations, including religious sites — a move Indian officials described as a direct attempt to undermine national unity.
Golden Temple Under Threat
Pakistan reportedly deployed a combination of drones, loitering munitions, and long-range missiles during its offensive. On the nights of May 9 and 10, the Golden Temple was directly in the crosshairs of this attack. However, India’s air defence teams were already on high alert.
An integrated response system involving AKASH missile batteries, L-70 air defence guns, and the state-of-the-art Akashteer air defence control system formed a protective shield over Amritsar and surrounding Punjab cities. These systems intercepted and neutralised every incoming threat aimed at the Golden Temple, successfully averting a potentially catastrophic incident.
The Role of Akashteer
Akashteer, India’s fully indigenous and automated air defence network, emerged as a game-changer in this conflict. Dubbed the “invisible wall”, Akashteer creates a seamless real-time link between the Army, Air Force, and Navy air defence operations, ensuring swift tracking and neutralisation of enemy projectiles.
Unlike Pakistan’s imported HQ-9 and HQ-16 systems — which reportedly failed to intercept Indian precision strikes — Akashteer’s rapid response capabilities demonstrated India’s dominance in the evolving landscape of automated air warfare.
Operation Sindoor: India’s Strategic Response
The chain of events began after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, prompting India to initiate Operation Sindoor on May 7. Precision strikes were launched on nine identified terror bases across Pakistan and POJK. Strategic targets included Bhawalpur (Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters) and Muridke (Lashkar-e-Taiba’s training base), with reports suggesting the elimination of nearly 100 militants.
Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting religious sites like Shambhu Temple in Jammu, a Gurdwara in Poonch, and Christian institutions, as confirmed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on May 14. The coordinated targeting was seen as an attempt to destabilise communal harmony in India.
India responded by deploying kamikaze drones to dismantle Pakistan’s air defence infrastructure, including systems guarding Lahore. By May 10, after significant losses on the Pakistani side, an agreement to cease hostilities was reached.
Minimal Damage, Maximum Vigilance
Despite the intense exchanges, Indian air defence units successfully neutralised all incoming threats with minimal casualties or infrastructure damage. The Indian Ministry noted that this not only highlighted India’s technological edge but also exposed vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s aerial defence systems.
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