India’s Air Defense Ecosystem: A Comparative Analysis with China’s Air Defense Systems India’s air defense ecosystem, a multi-layered network integrating indigenous systems like Akash, QRSAM, and Project Kusha with foreign systems like Russia’s S-400 and Israel’s Barak-8, counters diverse aerial threats, as proven in Operation Sindoor (2025). China’s air defense, led by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), relies on advanced systems like the HQ-9, S-400, and HQ-22, supported by a vast radar network and a larger defense budget ($296 billion vs. India’s $84 billion in 2025). While China’s numerical superiority and technological advancements, including hypersonic capabilities, pose challenges, India’s integrated command systems (IACCS, Akashteer) and combat experience provide strategic advantages. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and private firms drive India’s self-reliance, mitigating sanctions risks on foreign syst...