Inside India's SEAD Strike: How Pakistani Air Defences Were Neutralised

Understanding SEAD: Suppression of Enemy Air Defences

Formally known as Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD), this tactic involves disrupting or destroying enemy air defence systems — such as radars and missile launchers — that pose a threat to Indian aircraft. When the mission focuses specifically on physically eliminating these threats, it is also referred to as DEAD, or Destruction of Enemy Air Defences.

SEAD, or Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses, is a crucial military tactic used to disable or destroy enemy air defense systems, such as radar stations and surface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers. The main goal is to create a safer airspace for friendly aircraft, allowing them to operate freely in hostile environments. In modern warfare, where adversaries often deploy sophisticated air defence networks, SEAD missions play a vital role in gaining and maintaining air superiority.

SEAD operations can be carried out using two primary approaches: kinetic and electronic warfare. Kinetic SEAD involves physically destroying enemy systems using aircraft armed with precision-guided anti-radiation missiles (ARMs), which detect and home in on radar emissions. These missiles can effectively take out radars and missile sites that pose a threat to friendly aircraft. On the other hand, electronic warfare (EW) SEAD uses methods like jamming, spoofing, or deception to confuse or disable enemy radar and communication systems without direct physical engagement.

SEAD is sometimes referred to as DEAD — Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses — when the mission specifically focuses on the complete physical elimination of those systems. While both terms are used interchangeably, SEAD can also include non-lethal suppression methods that temporarily neutralise threats without destroying them.

In today's time, SEAD missions are a cornerstone of modern air strategy, enabling safe and effective offensive operations by neutralising the enemy’s ability to detect and engage aerial threats.

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