Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd (SDAL) has introduced 'Bhargavastra', a hard-kill counter-drone system developed recently, a significant leap in the battle against the growing menace of drone swarms.
The system includes micro rockets which recently completed a series of rigorous performance tests at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur. All test objectives were met successfully, proving the system's reliability.
On 13 May, three sets of tests were conducted in front of top Army Air Defence (AAD) brass. Two trials involved single rocket launches and a third involved a salvo launch of two rockets within two seconds. All four rockets cleared the operational parameters, demonstrating the system's maturity and capability to tackle mass drone attacks.
'Bhargavastra' is designed to identify and destroy small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from a distance of up to 2.5 kilometers. Its initial layer of protection uses unguided micro rockets with a 20-meter kill radius, best suited for disbanding drone swarms.
Supporting this is a second layer consisting of previously tested guided micro-missiles intended for precision targeting.
With the capability to function in diversified environments ranging from high-altitude regions above 5,000 meters above sea level, the system is particularly customized to cater to the diversified requirements of Indian defense forces.
SDAL emphasized the affordability and flexibility of the system, pointing to its completely indigenous provenance and in-house production of both the rockets and micro-missiles to destroy enemy drones. The modular design of the system also facilitates the addition of a soft-kill module, like jamming and spoofing capabilities.
Modules such as the radar and support systems can be tailored to operational needs, working in unison to provide a tiered and layered air defence (AD) umbrella. It also facilitates integration into other network-centric warfare infrastructures for superior situational awareness and response.
With radar sensors capable of detecting tiny airborne threats between 6 and 10 km distances and EO/IR sensor suites meant for target detection under low radar signatures, Bhargavastra can easily meet challenges posed by present-day aerial assaults.
This success is added to the long series of accomplishments by the 'Make in India' programme, making it a sure shot step toward the country enhancing its air defense system.
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