India has tested a new and low-cost weapon system called Bhargavastra to stop drone attacks. This weapon is made to destroy large groups of enemy drones and is a big step forward in India's defence technology. The system was tested on Tuesday at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur, Odisha, and all performance targets were met.

The Bhargavastra system uses micro-rockets that can hit and destroy small drones from a distance of up to 2.5 km. It works in “hard kill mode,” meaning it physically destroys incoming drones. It was developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL).

During the test, three different trials were conducted. In two of the tests, one rocket was fired each time. In the third test, two rockets were fired together in just two seconds (salvo mode). All four rockets performed well and hit their targets, proving that the system works effectively.

How Bhargavastra works: Two layers of defence

Bhargavastra uses two main layers of defence to fight drone attacks. The first layer uses unguided micro-rockets, which can destroy multiple drones at once with a killing range of 20 metres. The second layer includes guided micro-missiles, which have already been tested and can hit targets with great accuracy.

According to SDAL, “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.” This means that the system can also confuse drones using electronic methods, giving it extra power to protect important locations.

The system can be used in different places, including high mountains (above 5,000 metres). It is built to support the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force in every kind of environment.

Advanced technology for modern warfare

The system is equipped with modern tools like radar that can detect tiny flying threats from 6 to 10 km away. It also has Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors to clearly identify small and fast-moving drones.

The command centre uses advanced C4I technology (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence). It can connect easily with India’s existing defence systems. The sensors (radar, EO, and RF receivers) and shooters can be adjusted depending on what the military needs.

Developers say that Bhargavastra represents a major stride in counter-drone technology. Its open-source design means that India is ahead of many countries in creating a cheap and powerful drone-killing system that could soon protect many key areas from drone threats.

 

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