"THE TRADITIONAL KILL CHAIN HAS EVOLVED INTO A KILL WEB".

The article focuses on the evolution of air defence communication from a traditional "kill chain" to a more complex and adaptive "kill web" architecture, integrating sensors, command nodes, and shooters to counter modern aerial threats. It highlights challenges such as detection delays caused by stealth, hypersonic weapons, and low-radar-cross-section unmanned aerial vehicles, which compress engagement timelines to seconds. AI-enabled systems play a critical role in detection, classification, decision support, and engagement, especially against swarm attacks, while maintaining a "human-on-the-loop" framework where human commanders oversee AI-led actions. The article also discusses India’s advancements in multi-layered air defence demonstrated during Operation Sindoor in 2025, noting ongoing needs for indigenous airborne early warning systems, reduced reliance on foreign technology, and cost-effective engagement methods. [Extracted from the article]