Bhargavastra: India’s Quantum Leap in Air Defence Mechanism to Counter Drone Swarms
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, May 14: Indian on Wednesday took a quantum leap in its air defence system by successfully testing a new indigenous low-cost counter-drone system, named Bhargavastra designed and developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd (SDAL) to target hostile drone swarms
signifying a substantial leap in countering the escalating threat of drone swarms.
The micro rockets used in this counter-drone system underwent rigorous testing at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur, Odisha, achieving all designated objectives, official sources said. Hostile drone swarms are emerging as a major threat on the battlefield and these “remote toys,” as many observers put it, have been extensively used in the Russia-Ukraine war and the Pakistani forces also used it when it intervened on behalf of terrorists following the “Operation Sindoor” counter terror exercise. Indian forces responded befittingly and downed all the “remote toys” Pakistan launched towards Indian border districts and cities.
Three trials were conducted for the rocket at Gopalpur on May 13 in presence of senior officials of Army Air Defence (AAD). Two trials were conducted by firing one rocket each. One trial was conducted by firing two rockets in salvo mode within 2 seconds. All four rockets performed as expected and achieved the required launch parameters underscoring its pioneering technology in mitigating large-scale drone attacks.
A Unified Solution for Countering Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Threats: ‘Bhargavastra’ boasts of advanced capabilities advanced capabilities for detecting and eliminating small, incoming drones at distances of up to 2.5 km. It uses unguided micro rockets as the first layer of defence capable of neutralising drone swarms with a lethal radius of 20 metres, and guided micro-missile (already tested earlier) as the second layer for pinpoint accuracy, ensuring precise and impactful neutralisation.
Designed for seamless deployment across diverse terrains, including high-altitude regions of 5,000 metres and above from sea level, the system addresses the unique operational demands of India’s armed forces.
Highlighting Bhargavastra’s adaptability and cost-effectiveness, SDAL emphasised its indigenous design and the development of dedicated rocket and micro-missiles to neutralise hostile UAVs. The system is modular and can have an additional soft-kill layer to include jamming and spoofing to provide an integrated and comprehensive shield for all branches of the armed forces.
The radar and other components can be configured as per user requirement and made to work in an integrated manner for layered and tiered AD (air defence) cover, enabling engagement of targets at longer ranges. Further, the system is also engineered for seamless integration with existing network-centric warfare infrastructure.
The system’s radar can detect minute aerial threats from 6 to 10 km away. Its electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor suite further ensures precise identification of low radar cross-section targets. Its Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor suite further ensures precise identification of Low Radar Cross-Section (LRCS) targets.
‘Bhargavastra’ provides a comprehensive situational awareness overview, enabling operators to evaluate and counter individual drones or entire swarms. This is another feather in the cap for the “Make in India” policy and a progressive step in further strengthening India’s already robust air defence umbrella, officials said.
According to its developers, the system represents a significant stride in counter-drone technology. Its open-source architecture suggests that while several advanced nations are developing similar micro-missile systems, a domestically conceived multi-layered and cost-effective counter-drone system with swarm neutralisation capabilities like ‘Bhargavastra’ is yet to be deployed anywhere else globally.
