Ukraine’s Spider Web attack exposes Russia’s air defense flaws: can India’s model hold?

Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web, launched on June 1, 2025, marked a significant breach of Russian air defenses, using 117 drones to strike five air bases deep inside Russia, including locations over 8,000 km from the border.
The operation targeted nuclear-capable long-range bombers, with Ukraine claiming 41 strategic bombers were hit and at least 13 destroyed, inflicting an estimated $7 billion in damage.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who supervised the attack, said it took 'one year, six months and nine days' to prepare, highlighting the operation’s complexity and scale.
The drones were reportedly transported secretly inside container trucks and launched remotely, a Trojan-horse tactic that bypassed Russian defenses.

Despite Russia’s advanced S-400 air defense systems designed to intercept high-altitude threats, the attack exposed vulnerabilities against low-flying, slow-moving drones that evade radar coverage.

Experts note that while the attack may not fully stop Russia’s missile launches, replacing damaged bombers will be difficult as many are no longer in production.

This raises questions about the effectiveness of air defense models globally, including India’s layered and integrated system, which combines indigenous technologies like the Akashteer command system, Akash missiles, and modernized radars.

India’s model, tested during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan’s drone and missile attacks, emphasizes real-time coordination across military branches, contrasting with reliance on single high-tech systems like the S-400.

The Spider Web operation underscores the evolving nature of aerial warfare, where drone swarms can penetrate deep into enemy territory, challenging traditional air defense paradigms.

As Ukraine continues to innovate in drone warfare, nations like India may need to further adapt their defense strategies to counter similar threats.

Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web used 117 drones to strike five Russian air bases deep inside Russia, destroying at least 41 strategic bombers and causing $7 billion in damage. The attack exposed vulnerabilities in Russia’s air defenses, raising questions about the resilience of India’s layered air defense model.