During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan allegedly activated an extensive network of spies and sleeper cells inside India in a desperate bid to locate the country's formidable S-400 air defense systems. This assertion comes from retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, who served as the chief of the Western Air Command during the operation and was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal.
S-400 Posed Significant Threat
According to Mishra, the S-400 Triumf systems presented a major impediment to Pakistani air operations throughout the conflict. Their long-range detection and engagement capabilities meant Pakistani fighter aircraft were compelled to maintain a distance of approximately 200 km from the Indian border, drastically limiting their operational reach.
Pakistan's efforts to pinpoint the S-400 batteries were extensive, employing various methods beyond traditional intelligence. "Pakistanis were desperate to find where these S-400s were. They used every available means," Mishra told ANI. He elaborated that this included not only technical and satellite intelligence, but also human intelligence networks operating within India. "They also activated spies and sleeper cells within India to find out where the S-400s were located," he stated.
Targeting Airbases and Electronic Warfare
The former Air Marshal indicated that the urgency to locate the S-400 systems also explains why Indian airbases believed to be associated with the air defense network became primary targets for Pakistan during the hostilities. Pakistan also reportedly utilized air intelligence and electronic warfare capabilities in its attempts to identify the systems' positions.
India's S-400 network is being established under a 2018 agreement with Russia for five systems. Three systems have already been inducted into service, with a fourth squadron received in June 2026, further bolstering India's air defense capabilities.
India's Countermeasures and Operational Advantage
Mishra also highlighted India's strategic success in disrupting Pakistan's battlefield awareness. "We destroyed all their radars, including American AN/TPS series ones in Punjab. We also got two of their command and control centres. So, they were blinded," he recounted.
With its ground-based radar network severely compromised, Pakistan's forces increasingly relied on airborne radar platforms for situational awareness. Mishra recalled a pivotal S-400 engagement where a Pakistani airborne warning and control system (AWACS) was intercepted at a distance of 314 km. This specific S-400 interception during Operation Sindoor has been described by the Indian Air Force as its longest-range intercept, involving a target approximately 300 km inside Pakistani territory.
The destruction of Pakistan's radar and command-and-control infrastructure provided India with a significant operational advantage. "India could hit anywhere in Pakistan, and Pakistan could do nothing about it," Mishra affirmed. His account underscores the critical role of layered air defense and robust battlefield intelligence in modern warfare.