SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to bolster the defenses of its forward airbases with the acquisition of the Bhargavastra system, an indigenous counter-drone platform developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, a subsidiary of Solar Industries. Featuring 64 guided micro-missiles, this cutting-edge system is designed to neutralize the growing threat of swarm drone attacks, a menace that has increasingly challenged military forces worldwide.
The Bhargavastra system, developed by Solar Defence, addresses this challenge head-on. Unveiled in 2024 and successfully tested in January 2025 at the Gopalpur Seaward Firing Ranges in Odisha, the system is a multi-layered counter-unmanned aerial system (CUAS) engineered to detect and destroy swarm drones with precision and efficiency. At its core are 64 micro-missiles, housed in a canisterized launcher mounted on a 4×4 high-mobility vehicle, enabling rapid deployment across diverse terrains.
Each micro-missile is equipped with advanced guidance systems, offering lock-on-after-launch and homing capabilities. This allows the Bhargavastra to engage targets with an accuracy of within meters, striking drones at ranges exceeding 2.5 kilometers and altitudes up to 400 meters. The system’s ability to launch all 64 missiles in a single salvo—at one-second intervals—makes it uniquely suited to counter dense swarm attacks, engaging up to 64 targets simultaneously. Its radar detects medium-to-large UAVs at 10 kilometers and micro-drones at 6 kilometers, complemented by an Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) suite for tracking low-radar-signature threats.
The IAF’s decision to procure the Bhargavastra system is a strategic response to the vulnerability of its forward airbases, such as those in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Rajasthan. These bases, critical for rapid response and deterrence, have faced drone sightings and attacks in recent years, including a notable 2021 incident at Jammu Air Force Station, where explosives-laden drones breached perimeter defenses. The Bhargavastra’s mobility and rapid reaction time—neutralizing threats in under 16 seconds from detection—offer a robust shield against such incursions, ensuring the safety of aircraft, personnel, and infrastructure.
Unlike traditional air defense systems, which rely on costly missiles better suited for larger threats, the Bhargavastra provides a cost-effective “hard-kill” solution tailored for drones. Its micro-missiles, developed indigenously by Solar’s subsidiary Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), are designed to be affordable, allowing for widespread deployment without straining budgets. This aligns with the IAF’s need for scalable defenses that preserve high-end systems like the S-400 for conventional aerial threats.
Swarm drones—small, low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in coordinated groups—have emerged as a formidable asymmetric threat in modern warfare. Capable of overwhelming traditional air defenses through sheer numbers and unpredictability, these drones have been deployed effectively in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war and the Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes. For the IAF, tasked with safeguarding forward airbases along India’s northern and western borders, the risk is acute. These bases, often within striking distance of adversaries, are prime targets for drone incursions aimed at disrupting operations or damaging high-value assets like fighter jets and radar installations.
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