Synopsis: India’s robust air defence systems, including the AKASH missile and L-70 guns, successfully protected the Golden Temple in Amritsar from a Pakistani drone and missile assault on May 7-8, 2025, following India’s Operation Sindoor.
New Delhi: A senior Indian Army officer revealed that Pakistan attempted to target the Golden Temple in Amritsar with drones and long-range missiles on the night of May 7-8, 2025. The attack, described as a “massive air assault,” was a retaliatory move after India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor. The Indian Army’s advanced air defence grid, anticipating such an assault, intercepted and neutralized all threats, ensuring no damage to the sacred Sikh shrine.
Multi-Layered Air Defence Grid in Action
The Indian Army deployed a sophisticated four-layered air defence system to safeguard the Golden Temple and other strategic locations. Major General Kartik C Seshadri, commanding an infantry division in Amritsar, stated that credible intelligence had flagged the Golden Temple as a prime target. The defence grid included the S-400 system, Barak 8 medium-range surface-to-air missiles, Pechora air defence systems, Spyder quick-reaction missiles, and upgraded L-70 and Zu-23-2B guns. These systems worked in synergy, with real-time multi-sensor data processing enabling simultaneous engagement of multiple aerial threats, from drones to missiles.
Key Role of AKASH and L-70 Systems
The indigenous AKASH missile system, developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd., played a pivotal role in neutralizing Pakistan’s aerial threats. Designed for medium-range surface-to-air defence, AKASH offers cross-country mobility and can engage multiple targets using phased array guidance radar. Complementing it were the L-70 air defence guns, equipped with an integrated fire control system featuring optronic sights and autonomous ballistic computation for precise targeting. These systems ensured that Pakistan’s kamikaze drones and missiles were shot down before reaching the Golden Temple.
Operation Sindoor: Trigger for Pakistan’s Aggression
The Pakistani assault followed India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. Operation Sindoor targeted nine terror camps, including Lashkar-e-Taiba’s headquarters in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammed’s base in Bahawalpur, eliminating over 100 terrorists with surgical precision. Pakistan’s failed attempt to strike the Golden Temple and other Indian cities, including Srinagar, Jammu, and Chandigarh, was met with a robust defence, showcasing India’s military preparedness and strategic foresight.
Conclusion: India’s air defence grid, bolstered by indigenous systems like AKASH and legacy assets like L-70 guns, demonstrated unmatched resilience in protecting the Golden Temple, reinforcing India’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural and religious landmarks.