Experts Suggest Preemptive IAF Strikes on PAF AWACS using S-400 and Barak-8ER LRSAMs, Effectively Neutralizing Pak's Counter-strike Threats

In modern military conflicts, achieving superiority in information and situational awareness often dictates the outcome. Defence analysts suggest that for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to secure a decisive advantage in any potential future confrontation with Pakistan, its strategy must evolve beyond reactive measures.

A key proposal involves proactively targeting Pakistan Air Force (PAF) assets crucial for its operational awareness, particularly the Saab 2000 Erieye Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS).

These AWACS aircraft function as vital command centres in the sky. Equipped with powerful radar systems like the Swedish-origin Erieye, these planes provide the PAF with extended surveillance capabilities, enabling them to detect IAF aircraft or missile movements far beyond their border radars and coordinate defensive actions effectively. They are widely considered force multipliers, acting as the operational 'eyes and ears' for the PAF's air defence network.

According to strategic experts, disabling these airborne surveillance platforms, especially during the initial phase of hostilities, would significantly impair Pakistan's capacity to organise an effective air defence or manage its fighter aircraft operations. Without the overarching view provided by AWACS, the PAF would be largely reliant on ground-based radar systems, which have limitations in range, mobility, and survivability, particularly in challenging terrains.

India's recent acquisition of advanced long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) systems provides new strategic options. The Russian-made S-400 Triumf, with a reported engagement range of up to 400 kilometres, and the Indo-Israeli developed Barak-8ER (Extended Range), capable of hitting targets significantly beyond 150 kilometres, give India the ability to engage high-value aerial targets deep within Pakistani airspace without deploying its own aircraft across the border. This capability allows for striking critical assets while managing escalation risks.

Utilising these ground-based missile systems to target essential PAF aerial assets like the AWACS, or potentially air-to-air refuellers and electronic intelligence aircraft, could offer several advantages for India during periods of high tension:

• Disrupting PAF Command: Eliminating airborne radar coverage would severely hinder the PAF's ability to manage air battles effectively.
• Facilitating IAF Operations: Reduced early warning for the PAF would allow IAF strike formations, potentially employing stand-off or hypersonic weapons, to penetrate deeper into enemy territory with a lower risk of being intercepted.
• Shifting the Strategic Balance: Such a preemptive move could force the PAF into a defensive posture, compelling it to withdraw valuable air assets and divert focus from offensive planning to protecting its airspace.

Experts acknowledge that a preemptive strike against a high-value asset like an AWACS aircraft would be considered a significant escalation under international conventions. However, they argue that if based on credible intelligence indicating an imminent threat or hostile coordination by the PAF AWACS, such an action could potentially be framed as a necessary act of national defence.

Furthermore, employing surface-launched missiles rather than manned fighter jets for such a mission could initially offer a degree of strategic ambiguity, potentially providing India with plausible deniability in the immediate aftermath.

The analysis concludes that the IAF should consider adopting a more proactive approach focused on shaping the battlefield early. Targeting the adversary's primary surveillance and control assets like AWACS is presented not merely as a destructive act, but as a strategic move to disable the opponent's ability to observe, orient, decide, and act effectively in network-centric warfare scenarios.

 

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[s James]

Need to Move ground Forces Quickly to POK
Open Punjab Roots Fight it out Capture Kiber
Road connections to Afghanistan

 

[Swadeshi]

First strike their satellite systems. Nothing will work once their communications are destroyed.

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

Pre-emptive mass Brahmos or Hypersonic Missile attack on all Pak Nuke weapons could've been possible but it is a game of Do or Die at once. Its unlikely that GoI would resort to such act.

 

[Sammy]

Discuss this more on newspaper so that they know what we think ?

 

[Ganesan]

During 1971 war, after the initial air attack by PAF on the western sector during the night of 3rd December, 1971, all the run ways of Sargodha, Chuckjumra and other strategically located Air Force stations were damaged by by pouring from the sky, hard chemical epoxy compound filled with sharp iron cubes . Hence most of the air crafts got grounded after 3rd December 1971. No air strike after 3rd December, 1971 barring some stray attempts by PAF. THEIR AIR WING WAS CUT OFF.
Similarly, strategic and earliest attack to neutralize and blast their nuke stations must be attempted, with parallel efforts to ground their fighter aircrafts. This will reduce their combat strength by 50%. .
[ truth written by war veteran of 1971]

 

[BinuBodo]

Too much talk and discussion within the CCS, media discussion and telecast of everything happening in India has already given enough time to Pakistan to prepare militarily and seek help from their allies like Turkey and China. India should divide its armed forces and maken them country specific and always keep them battle ready to strike Pakistan, China and Bangladesh when situation arises. India should have their missiles pre fixed on enemy targets (AWACS, satellites, ground radars, missile depots, aircrafts and helicopters, millitary equipment production houses, power assets, dams, bridges, Airports, millitary HQ and command centers) to neutralize within the first day of war so that it cannot have the resources to retaliate. Its no use planning after an incident has happened and when whole world starts putting pressure to maintain peace. What does other countries know about suffering from terrorists attacks and that too state sponsored?. Playing waiting game means surrendering to enemy. Already Pakistan got enough time to shift their war assets to far away places, political, milltary and militant heads went underground, alliances are ready help. Are we now ready to fight 3 pronged war with depleted and limited aircrafts?

 

[sishir]

We have given too much time for military planners in Pakistan to work out all eventualies and they must have taken corrective steps. Why our political establishment takes so much time to discuss??? Mr Modi returned from an foreign trip early. However other then meetings nothing punshing have been done to Pakistan. This puts our armed forces on a backward strategy to find new ways to counter. Also 114 aircraft decision is still hanging will we take the decision after our neighbors get more modern aircraft from China???? Why we allow indigo to ferry passengers to turkey? Stop they are pumping technology and equipment to Pakistan out of money we give via routing our traveller's via Turkish airlines. Mr Modi please show the world that we are a decisive and formidable nation when it comes to security and pride.

 

[Sandeep]

In any war you need to blind your enemy before hitting targets on a large scale. We need to destroy their radars, SAM, most of their best jets, nuclear weapons, utility supplies, while they are still grounded. We can also cripple their economy if we blockade their main ports and prevent their oil and critical imports. We should also start to divert and slow down all rivers under our control that flow into Pakistan which would destroy them. India has to conduct a large and heavy military strike on them and not just on terror camps.

 

[Dredd]

Pre-emptive mass Brahmos or Hypersonic Missile attack on all Pak Nuke weapons could've been possible but it is a game of Do or Die at once. Its unlikely that GoI would resort to such act.

Do we know the location of all their nuclear weapons?

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

Do we know the location of all their nuclear weapons?

I am sure RAW does.

 

[Hari Sud]

Do we know the location of all their nuclear weapons?

America knows. They have location and knowledge locks on all Pakistani nuclear devices since 2001. Secretary of State Collin Powell was instrumental in all that.

 

[Marcus]

Bomber squadron and rocket & space force is the need of hour.

 

[Indiafirst]

Any war may be long drawn one. We need to cripple and Fatige Pakistanis before executing severe and crushing final punch. This time India should try to change the map of Pakistan, only then we can live peacefully.

 

[Dredd]

America knows. They have location and knowledge locks on all Pakistani nuclear devices since 2001. Secretary of State Collin Powell was instrumental in all that.

USA wants pakistan to counterbalance india, as it need india to counterbalance China.

 

[Hari Sud]

USA wants pakistan to counterbalance india, as it need india to counterbalance China.

Not true anymore. That is eighties and nineties theory of counterbalance, earlier propounded by Nixon/Kissinger. Now anti Muslim Trump in control, that theory has been dumped.