Four-layer security grid turned impregnable for Pakistan Air Force

New Delhi: A four-layer security provided by the armed forces, including the Border Security Force (BSF), helped India thwart Pakistan Air Force's attempt to target national security and defence establishments, said Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai on Monday.

While lauding India's multi-layered air defence system, Ghai said that there was no chance that Pakistan could have targeted our defence and security assets deployed along the Line of Control and international border. "In our inventory, we have a unique mixture of counter-unmanned aerial system, air defence weapons and mediums of electronic warfare, and that is why you saw when Pakistan Air Force tried to attack our airfield and logistic installation on May 9 and 10, they failed to breach this strong air defence grid," Lt Gen Ghai said.

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During the press conference, Lt Gen Ghai also showed the diagram covering 200 km from the border. The first layer consisted of counter and Man-Portable air defence systems. These are surface-to-air missiles that can be carried and fired by a single individual or carried by several individuals and fired by more than one person acting as a crew, according to officials.

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The second layer consisted of point air defence and short-range surface-to-air missiles and pressed into action if the first layer was not able to diagnose and neutralise the adversary, they added. The third layer included medium-range surface and air missiles and was deployed to ensure safety of civilians and military targets, as per the officials. The fourth and final layer was made of long-range surface-to-air missiles.

According to Lt Gen Ghai, the four layers were aided by surveillance radars and were controlled from Integrated Air Command and Control System, an automated command and control system for air defence deployed by the Indian Air Force. Ghai lauded BSF, which is deployed along with the Army near the border, for their role in repelling the Pakistan attack and noted: "I want to praise BSF here also. Every soldier gave their contribution to our mission. Their counter-unarmed system was also part of our multi-tiered grid system."

During heightened tension last week, BSF shared visuals of destruction of terrorist launch pads at Looni in Pakistan's Sialkot district and visuals of averting infiltration attempts and reported killing of seven terrorists in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.