SOURCE: AFI
Taiwanese media outlets have recently commended the performance of India’s indigenously developed air defense systems, particularly the Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) and the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM), for their effectiveness in intercepting Chinese-designed missiles and short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) used by Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan conflict, Operation Sindoor, in May 2025. The conflict, triggered by a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, 2025, escalated into a series of aerial engagements, with Pakistan launching a barrage of drones, missiles, and rockets targeting Indian military and civilian sites.
According to reports, Pakistan deployed several Chinese-designed systems, including the HATF-I SRBM and guided rockets such as the FATAH-I and FATAH-II, in significant numbers during the hostilities. While Pakistan claims the FATAH-I and FATAH-II are indigenous designs, defense analysts have long pointed out that these systems were developed with substantial design support and technology transfer (ToT) from China. The FATEH series, in particular, bears striking similarities to Chinese rocket systems, with experts suggesting that Beijing provided the foundational technology to bolster Pakistan’s arsenal as part of their strategic partnership.
During Operation Sindoor, which saw intense fighting between May 7 and May 10, 2025, India’s air defense network demonstrated remarkable resilience. The Indian Armed Forces, equipped with the Akash SAM and MR-SAM systems, successfully intercepted multiple waves of Pakistani attacks, including the HATF-I SRBMs and FATAH-I and II guided rockets. The Akash system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), showcased its ability to track and neutralize multiple aerial threats simultaneously, with a range exceeding 30 km. The MR-SAM, a joint development between DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries, further complemented India’s layered defense, effectively countering high-speed missiles and rockets.
Taiwanese media, closely monitoring the conflict due to its implications for regional security and their own concerns about Chinese military capabilities, highlighted the Akash and MR-SAM’s success in countering Chinese-designed threats. A report from a leading Taiwanese defense outlet noted that the Indian systems “proved their mettle by neutralizing advanced Chinese missile technology,” raising questions about the reliability of China’s defense exports. The outlet further emphasized that the interception of the HATF-I SRBM, a nuclear-capable missile, and the FATAH-I and II rockets underscored India’s growing prowess in air defense technology, offering a potential blueprint for other nations facing similar threats from Chinese-supplied systems.
The conflict also exposed vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s reliance on Chinese weaponry. Despite Pakistan’s claims of the FATAH series being a homegrown development, the systems’ design lineage traces back to Chinese technology, a fact that has been widely acknowledged by global defense experts. The failure of these systems to penetrate India’s air defense network has drawn scrutiny, with Taiwanese analysts suggesting that China may have used Pakistan as a testing ground for its military technology, only to see it falter against India’s indigenous systems.
India’s defense establishment has hailed the performance of its air defense systems as a testament to the country’s self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The Akash and MR-SAM, alongside other systems like the S-400 and the DRDO-developed D-4 anti-drone system, played a pivotal role in thwarting Pakistan’s aerial attacks, including those targeting civilian sites like the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The success of these systems has not only bolstered India’s strategic confidence but also garnered international attention, with Taiwan’s praise reflecting growing interest in Indian defense technology amid rising concerns over Chinese military expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.
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