New Delhi: India on Wednesday successfully conducted the trial of its indigenous counter-drone system, Bhargavastra, marking a significant advancement in the country’s air defence preparedness. The test was carried out at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur, Odisha, according to a report by India Today.
Developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), Bhargavastra is a low-cost, hard-kill system designed specifically to neutralize hostile drone swarms—a growing threat in modern warfare. The system demonstrated its ability to intercept and destroy incoming drones using micro rockets during the trial, which met all pre-set performance benchmarks.
Equipped with cutting-edge detection and targeting technology, Bhargavastra can eliminate drones at distances of up to 2.5 kilometres. Officials confirmed that three successful trials were carried out in the presence of senior officers from the Army Air Defence (AAD) corps.
The need for such systems has become increasingly urgent, especially as drone swarms have been extensively deployed in recent conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war. India has also faced drone-based threats, particularly during recent tensions with Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, where Pakistani forces allegedly used drones to support terrorist activities. In response, Indian forces swiftly neutralized all incoming drones aimed at border areas and key cities.
The successful test of Bhargavastra signals a major boost to India’s indigenous defence manufacturing and its strategic ability to counter modern aerial threats with precision and efficiency.
