Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 27: Pakistan deployed spies and activated sleeper cells in India in an attempt to locate the positions of India's S-400 air defence systems during Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra has revealed.
Mishra, who was the chief of India's Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor, said Pakistan used “every trick in the book” to identify the locations of the Russian-origin S-400 systems, which emerged as a key component of India's air defence during the military confrontation.
In an interview with news agency, Mishra said Pakistan considered the S-400 its biggest threat after several instances in which Pakistani aerial assets were intercepted by the system.
“They were desperate to find where these S-400s were. They applied every trick in the book to locate S-400,” Mishra said.
He said Pakistan also used intelligence networks inside India in its efforts to identify the deployment locations of the air defence systems.
Mishra further said Islamabad may have received satellite support from another country to track the S-400 systems, but declined to identify the country involved.
“They were using satellite help from other nations. I don't want to use the name of the country,” he said.
According to Mishra, the presence of the S-400 significantly constrained Pakistan's air operations during the conflict, with Pakistani fighter aircraft unable to approach within 200 km of the Indian border.
The S-400 Triumf, referred to by India as ‘Sudarshan Chakra’, is a long-range surface-to-air missile system equipped with advanced radar and interception capabilities. It is designed to detect, track and engage multiple aerial targets at considerable distances.
India and Russia signed an agreement in 2018 for five S-400 systems. Three systems have already been delivered and inducted into the Indian Air Force, while the fourth S-400 squadron was received in June 2026.
The system played a major role during Operation Sindoor, launched by India following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The military confrontation between India and Pakistan lasted from May 7 to May 10.
The S-400 was credited with long-range engagements against Pakistani aerial threats during the operation, including the reported destruction of a high-value Pakistani surveillance aircraft operating more than 300 km from the Indian side.
With an advertised maximum engagement range of around 400 km, the S-400 is capable of tracking and engaging multiple types of aerial targets, including aircraft and missiles.
The system's extensive deployment during Operation Sindoor underscored its importance to India's layered air defence network and its ability to deter hostile aircraft from approaching sensitive areas.