India Successfully Tests Bhargavastra, Indigenous Counter-Drone Swarm System
India on Tuesday successfully test-fired Bhargavastra, an indigenous counter-drone system equipped with micro-rockets and guided missiles, marking a breakthrough in swarm drone defence capabilities.
India’s defence preparedness against hostile drone swarms received a major boost with the successful testing of Bhargavastra, a low-cost, homegrown counter-drone system developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL).
The trials, held at the Seaward Firing Range in Odisha’s Gopalpur, involved three test firings of the system’s unguided micro-rockets. Two tests involved single-rocket launches, and one used a two-rocket salvo mode. All launches met mission parameters, confirming the system’s operational readiness and precision.
According to senior officials from the Army Air Defence (AAD) who witnessed the tests, the system is designed in “hard kill” mode and is capable of neutralising small drones up to 2.5 km away.
Bhargavastra employs a dual-layer system. The first involves unguided micro-rockets with a lethal radius of 20 metres for wide-area impact, while the second layer uses guided micro-missiles for pinpoint strikes. The guided missile component had been successfully tested in earlier phases.
The system is modular, allowing configuration of sensors—radar, EO/IR, and RF receivers—as per operational requirements. It also allows for future integration of a “soft kill” layer, involving electronic jamming and spoofing mechanisms.
Designed for deployment in varied terrains, including high-altitude areas above 5,000 metres, Bhargavastra is suited for India’s diverse combat zones.
The system includes an advanced Command-and-Control Centre embedded with C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence) technology. Its radar can detect aerial threats with low radar cross-sections from up to 10 km away.
The EO/IR sensor suite enables precise target tracking and engagement, while open-source architecture ensures compatibility with India’s existing network-centric warfare systems.
SDAL highlighted that few countries have deployed a fully indigenous and multi-layered counter-swarm system like Bhargavastra.
“While global powers are developing similar technologies, Bhargavastra’s modularity, cost-effectiveness, and indigenous core make it truly unique,” said a senior SDAL official.
The development of Bhargavastra comes amid rising concerns over drone-based warfare, particularly from hostile entities using swarm drones for surveillance and targeted strikes along India’s borders.
This system addresses a strategic gap in India’s defence arsenal, providing a rapid and scalable response to such threats.
