The S-400 air defence system, which is worth $1.5 billion, was destroyed using hypersonic missiles, launched from JF-17 Thunder aircraft, security sources said.
The S-400 air defence system is a Russian-made missile defence system which is widely regarded as one of the world's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems.According to NDTV, this system is designed to intercept a variety of aerial threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.This air defence system comprises three components — missile launchers, a powerful radar, and a command centre — and is capable of engaging aircraft, cruise missiles, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.Additionally, the S-400 air defence system can target up to 600 kilometres away and engage almost all modern warplanes.In October 2018, India signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, which are viewed as a major threat by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) due to their long-range capabilities.The destruction of the air defence system came as part of Pakistan's broader military operation that was launched in response to Indian missile strikes on multiple air bases.