Former PAF Air Commodore Admits Pakistan Lacks Defence Against India’s BrahMos-A Cruise Missiles
Public disclosure highlights strategic imbalance and vulnerability to precision standoff attacks in South Asia
BrahMos-A exposes critical gaps in Pakistan’s air defence
In a significant admission by former Pakistani defence officials, experts have acknowledged that Pakistan currently lacks the capability to intercept India’s BrahMos-A air-launched supersonic cruise missile. This revelation comes amid rising tensions and reported IAF strikes on Pakistani airbases, intensifying concerns over the region’s air defence readiness.
- Ikramullah Bhatti and Adil Sultan, both prominent defence analysts and former military officials, confirmed on national television that no current system in Pakistan can stop a missile like the BrahMos-A once launched.
- These comments followed Indian media reports claiming that the IAF deployed BrahMos-A from Su-30MKI fighters in recent strikes targeting PAF bases such as Jacobabad and Murid.
BrahMos-A: A formidable standoff threat
The BrahMos-A, an air-launched version of the Indo-Russian supersonic cruise missile, significantly enhances India’s standoff strike capabilities.
- With a speed exceeding Mach 2.8, precision targeting, and a range of over 400 km, the missile allows Indian jets to engage strategic targets without entering hostile airspace.
- This limits exposure to enemy radar and missile defences, giving Indian forces greater operational flexibility and survivability.
Former Air Commodore Adil Sultan emphasized, “Even India cannot defend against this class of missile. The response time is too short. It’s a universal challenge, not just ours.”
Strategic implications for Pakistan
The lack of effective defence against BrahMos-A points to a critical vulnerability in Pakistan’s military infrastructure.
- Systems like the LY-80 (HQ-16) surface-to-air missiles are not optimized for intercepting high-speed, low-flying cruise missiles, especially in saturation or surprise attack scenarios.
- This leaves key assets such as airbases, command posts, and radar stations exposed to precision strikes that could cripple operational capability in minutes.
These gaps also reveal shortcomings in early warning infrastructure, long-range radar coverage, and integrated air defence systems.
Doctrinal shift in India’s air warfare strategy
India’s use of BrahMos-A reflects a broader shift in military doctrine—from close air combat to long-range precision warfare.
- Standoff munitions like BrahMos allow for deep strikes without risking aircraft losses, and are particularly effective in pre-emptive or retaliatory operations.
- This strategy lowers the threshold for cross-border engagements, potentially altering the escalation calculus in any future conflict.
Such capabilities enable India to shape the battlefield remotely, applying pressure without committing to prolonged engagements.
A wake-up call for both sides
The public admission by senior Pakistani analysts serves as a strategic wake-up call for regional powers.
- Pakistan faces urgent pressure to invest in next-generation interceptors, multi-layered air defence networks, and persistent surveillance systems.
- India, despite enjoying a current edge, must prepare for future scenarios where Pakistan or other adversaries could acquire similar or asymmetric strike capabilities.
Both nations are now grappling with the reality of rapid missile warfare evolution, where speed, accuracy, and distance redefine deterrence and escalation.
