PM Modi poses in front of S-400 missile system at Adampur Air Base days after Pakistan claimed it was destroyed

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday debunked Pakistan's claim of destroying India's S-400 air defence system by posing in front of it during his visit to Adampur airbase in Punjab.This comes after Pakistan's air force (PAF) claimed that its hypersonic missiles destroyed the S-400 system in Adampur. The PAF also shared fake videos and operationalised its disinformation campaign.Earlier in the day, PM Modi visited Adampur airbase, where he interacted with the air force warriors, days after India launched Operation Sindoor. The airbase, which was one of the active airbases during Operation Sindoor, was the key military location that the Pakistani military attempted to attack last week on Wednesday after India launched Operation Sindoor, according to the defence ministry, reported PTI.Later, PM Modi called the meeting with jawans a "special experience" and said that India is eternally grateful to the armed forces for everything they do for the nation."Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation," PM Modi said in a post on X.Before PM Modi's visit, the ministry of external affairs had exposed the "misinformation campaign" run by Pakistan with several false claims, including that it inflicted damage to the S-400 and BrahMos missile.In a press briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said, "Pakistan claimed that it damaged our S-400 and BrahMos missile base with its JF-17, which is completely wrong. Secondly, it also ran a misinformation campaign that our airfields in Sirsa, Jammu, Pathankot, Bathinda, Naliya and Bhuj were damaged, and this misinformation is also completely wrong."This comes days after India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire following a sharp escalation in cross-border tensions triggered by the deadly April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.Pakistan responded with drone attacks targeting areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. These attacks were intercepted by Indian defence systems but raised fears of a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.The S-400 "Sudarshan Chakra" is an Indian name given to the S-400 Triumf air defence missile system acquired from Russia.The term "Sudarshan Chakra" draws from the epic Mahabharata, symbolising precision, speed, and lethal capability—qualities that closely reflect the S-400's operational strengths.Developed by Russia's Almaz-Antey, the S-400 is among the most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile systems in the world. India signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia in 2018 to procure five S-400 units, with the first system deployed in Punjab in 2021 to bolster defences against threats from Pakistan and China. The S-400 can engage aerial targets at ranges of up to 400 km and detect threats as far as 600 km away.It supports four different types of missiles, enabling it to target everything from aircraft and drones to cruise and ballistic missiles. Equipped with sophisticated phased-array radar, the system can track over 100 targets simultaneously and is mounted on mobile launchers for rapid repositioning.The deployment of the S-400 significantly strengthens India’s multi-layered air defence capabilities, offering a strategic edge in protecting key military and civilian assets. It is widely regarded as a game-changer in South Asia’s aerial defence landscape.