In a bold assertion of India’s military preparedness, top defence officials showcased intercepted enemy drones and missile debris, underscoring the robustness of the country’s layered air defence system.
India’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai used a striking cricket analogy to describe India’s impenetrable grid:
“Targeting our airfields and logistics is way too tough… Even if you crossed all the layers, one of the layers of this grid system will hit you.”
Drawing inspiration from legendary Australian bowlers, he quoted the famed Ashes-era phrase: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don’t get ya, Lillee must,” to illustrate the inevitable failure of enemy attacks against India’s multi-layered defences.
Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai also paid tribute to cricketer Virat Kohli, calling him one of his favourites after the star’s retirement from Test cricket.
That series, immortalised in Cricket Australia’s Forged in Fire documentary, marked the birth of one of the most fearsome bowling partnerships in cricket history.
On a hostile WACA pitch, Thomson and Lillee broke bones and spirits—prompting emergency reinforcements for the English side, including 41-year-old Colin Cowdrey. The legendary pace battery left a trail of injuries and fear, with Thomson later admitting,
“I’d rather hit them than get them out.”
The Indian military presented evidence of a Chinese-origin PL-15 air-to-air missile, reportedly used by Pakistan, and wreckage from Turkish-made YIHA and Songar drones, all neutralised by Indian forces.
Air Marshal AK Bharti reaffirmed India’s readiness:
“All our military bases and systems remain fully operational and ready to undertake any future missions.”
He highlighted the evolving nature of threats, especially drone warfare, stating,
“Numerous waves of drones and UCAVs employed by Pakistan were thwarted by indigenous soft and hard kill counter-UAS systems.”
Air Marshal AK Bharti praised the indigenously developed Akash air defence system for its stellar performance, attributing operational success to sustained government investment in defence capabilities over the past decade.
Vice Admiral AN Pramod detailed how India’s naval surveillance and targeting systems work seamlessly across platforms:
“We are maintaining continuous surveillance to degrade or neutralise threats… under a comprehensive and effective layered fleet air defence mechanism that caters to drones, high-speed missiles, and aircraft.”
The Indian military’s message was clear—India’s defences are ready, resilient, and backed by homegrown technology, strategic foresight, and unwavering vigilance.
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