SOURCE: AFI
Anand Mahindra, a prominent Indian industrialist, recently weighed in on the importance of robust missile defense systems in the wake of attacks on Israel. He highlighted Israel’s multi-layered system, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, and the upcoming laser-based Iron Beam. Mahindra emphasized that for India, possessing “ironclad defence interception systems” is as crucial as offensive weaponry.
However, his comments sparked debate among defense analysts. Some argued that replicating Israel’s approach might not be feasible for India. Unlike Israel’s compact landmass, India’s vast size makes comprehensive missile defense economically challenging.
Mahindra’s statement also shed light on a potential gap in public awareness. Many Indians are familiar with Israeli missile defense systems, but Experts suggests they might be unaware of India’s own ballistic missile shield program.
India’s program phases:
- Phase 1: Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) and Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missiles – These address incoming ballistic missiles at different altitudes.
- Phase 2: Advanced Defence (AD) Interceptor 1 & 2 (AD1 & AD2) – These are designed to intercept ballistic missiles at higher altitudes and longer ranges.
The debate highlights the need for a nuanced discussion on India’s missile defense strategy. While replicating Israel’s system might not be ideal, India certainly needs to strengthen its own program.