SOURCE: AFI
In a historic milestone for modern warfare, India’s S-400 air defense system, dubbed “Sudarshan Chakra,” has etched its name in the annals of military history by achieving the longest-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) kill ever recorded. On the night of May 9–10, 2025, during a tense escalation between India and Pakistan, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully neutralized a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Saab 2000 Erieye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft at an unprecedented distance of 314 kilometers. This remarkable feat not only underscores the technological prowess of India’s air defense capabilities but also marks a significant moment in the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict, with both nations entering the record books for this extraordinary event.
The record-breaking engagement occurred amid heightened hostilities following India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives. India’s retaliatory strikes targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), using precision munitions like the BrahMos cruise missile and SCALP missiles deployed by Rafale aircraft. Pakistan responded with a large-scale aerial assault, deploying drones, missiles, and fighter jets targeting 15 Indian military installations across northern and western India, including key bases in Srinagar, Pathankot, Amritsar, and Bhuj.
The S-400 Triumf, acquired by India from Russia in a $5.43 billion deal signed in 2018, is one of the most advanced long-range air defense systems in the world. Christened “Sudarshan Chakra” after the divine weapon of Lord Krishna in Hindu mythology, the system embodies precision, speed, and lethal capability. Capable of tracking up to 300 targets simultaneously at a range of 600 kilometers and engaging aerial threats up to 400 kilometers away, the S-400 is designed to counter a wide spectrum of threats, including stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and airborne early warning systems like the Erieye.
India has deployed three S-400 squadrons along its borders with Pakistan and China, with two more expected by 2026. The system’s multi-AESA radar suite, advanced electronic countermeasures, and long-range 40N6E missile provide unmatched situational awareness and interception capabilities, giving India a strategic edge in the region. During Operation Sindoor, the S-400’s performance was exemplary, intercepting Pakistani drones, missiles, and, most notably, the Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft.
On the night of May 9–10, 2025, the IAF’s S-400 system, likely stationed at the Adampur airbase in Punjab, detected and engaged a PAF Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft operating deep inside Pakistani airspace. The Erieye, a critical force multiplier for the PAF, provides real-time surveillance and command-and-control capabilities, making it a high-value target. According to reliable sources cited by the EurAsian Times, the S-400’s 40N6E missile struck the Erieye at a distance of 314 kilometers, setting a world record for the longest-range SAM kill as per Hindustan Times.
This engagement was corroborated by Indian media, with the Hindustan Times reporting the loss of a PAF AWACS during Operation Sindoor, though Pakistan initially claimed the aircraft was downed by a BrahMos missile strike on the ground. The destruction of the Erieye, confirmed as the second loss of such an asset for Pakistan, significantly degraded the PAF’s situational awareness and coordination capabilities. Social media posts on X further amplified the news, with users citing IAF claims of additional kills, including two F-16s and a JF-17, though these remain unverified.
Pakistan’s military, reeling from the loss, launched a disinformation campaign, claiming its JF-17 Thunder jets had destroyed an S-400 system at Adampur using hypersonic missiles as part of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos. Satellite images circulated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) purportedly showed damage to the Adampur airbase, but these claims were swiftly debunked. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Adampur on May 13, 2025, where he posed in front of an intact S-400 launcher, and statements from Colonel Sofiya Qureshi dismissing Pakistan’s claims as “misinformation” exposed the falsehoods.
However, a report by Militarnyi on May 14, 2025, cited Indian media mentioning the death of an S-400 operator, Rambabu Kumar Singh, in Jammu and Kashmir, suggesting possible damage to a system component, such as a radar or command post, during Pakistani strikes. Despite this, the operational integrity of India’s S-400 units remained intact, as evidenced by their continued success in neutralizing threats.
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