India's ‘Bhargavastra’: Indigenous drone system; can destroy drones at a distance of 2.5 km

India has successfully tested a cutting-edge, low-cost counter-drone system named Bhargavastra, marking a major milestone in the nation's defence capabilities against drone swarms. The system was trialed at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur in Odisha where it achieved all specified performance parameters.

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Developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), Bhargavastra operates in hard kill mode, designed to detect and destroy small or incoming drones up to a distance of 2.5 km. It features unguided micro-rockets for rapid swarm neutralisation and guided micro-missiles (already tested earlier) for accurate targeting.

During the trial, three tests were conducted-two involving single-rocket firings and one using two rockets in quick succession. All four rockets met the launch and performance benchmarks, demonstrating Bhargavastra’s effectiveness in tackling large-scale drone threats.

One of the key strengths of Bhargavastra lies in its multi-layered architecture. Its first layer involves unguided micro-rockets with a lethal radius of 20 metres, and its second layer uses guided micro-missiles for precise elimination. The system is also built for use in diverse terrains, including high-altitude regions above 5,000 meters, aligning with the Indian military’s operational requirements.

The modular system allows for the integration of soft-kill features like  jamming and spoofing, offering a more comprehensive and integrated air defence solution. The sensors-Radar, Electro-Optical (EO), and RF Receiver, along with the shooter, can be configured based on mission needs. This flexibility allows Bhargavastra to work seamlessly within India’s network-centric warfare infrastructure. 

At its core is an advanced Command-and-Control Centre using C4I technology (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence). The radar can detect low-signature aerial threats from 6 to 10 km, while its EO/IR sensors offer high-precision identification of targets with a low radar cross-section.

Developers highlight that while advanced countries are exploring similar technologies, Bhargavastra is one of the first domestically-developed, low-cost, modular, and swarm-neutralising counter-drone systems in the world with real deployment readiness.