SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a recent conversation with Nitin A. Gokhale, Editor-in-Chief of BharatShakti.in, Ashok Atluri, Chairman and Managing Director of Zen Technologies, strongly endorsed the Indian Armed Forces’ adoption of hard-kill anti-drone systems to counter the growing threat of pre-feed, jam-resistant drones. Drawing lessons from recent conflicts, particularly Pakistan’s use of Turkish-made Asisguard Songar drones in Operation Sindoor, Atluri emphasized the urgency of integrating advanced counter-drone technologies to safeguard India’s airspace. His insights highlight the evolving nature of drone warfare and India’s proactive steps toward self-reliance in defense innovation.
The conversation comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, a significant escalation in May 2025, where Pakistan launched over 500 drones, including Turkish Asisguard Songar models, targeting 36 Indian military and strategic sites along the western border. These drones, ranging from low-cost quadcopters to sophisticated armed unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), were deployed in coordinated swarms, some carrying minimal payloads like stone pellets, likely for reconnaissance and probing India’s air defense systems. While India’s multi-layered defenses, including the indigenous Akash system and Cold War-era anti-aircraft guns, neutralized over 70 drones through kinetic and non-kinetic means, the incursion exposed vulnerabilities to advanced drone technologies.
Atluri highlighted the increasing sophistication of hostile drones, particularly pre-feed, jam-resistant models that can operate autonomously without real-time communication, making traditional electronic jamming less effective. “The Turkish Songar drones, as seen in recent conflicts, are a wake-up call. Many were jammed or shot down, but their deployment in large numbers and coordinated swarms shows the future of warfare. India must prioritize hard-kill options to decisively neutralize such threats,” he told Gokhale. The Songar, a quadrotor UCAV equipped with assault rifles, grenade launchers, or smoke munitions, demonstrated Pakistan’s tactical reliance on Turkish technology, underscoring the need for robust countermeasures.
Zen Technologies, a Hyderabad-based leader in defense innovation, has been at the forefront of developing anti-drone systems tailored for India’s security needs. At Aero India 2025, the company unveiled Vyomkavach, an AI-powered anti-drone system integrating advanced sensors, electronic jammers, and kinetic interceptors to detect and neutralize threats like the Bayraktar TB2 and drone swarms. “Vyomkavach is designed as an all-encompassing aerial protection shield,” Atluri stated, emphasizing its ability to counter high-threat UAVs. The system’s hard-kill capabilities, including kinetic interceptors, ensure definitive neutralization of drones that evade soft-kill measures like jamming.
Another flagship offering is the Zen Anti-Drone System with Hard-Kill (Zen ADS HK), successfully delivered to the Army Air Defence College in Gopalpur, Odisha, in June 2024. This system, valued at approximately ?150 crore, combines radar, detectors, and kinetic solutions to neutralize hostile drones. Atluri noted its high indigenous content, aligning with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. “Our systems cover a wide band, beyond just commercial frequencies like 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz, ensuring we can tackle advanced threats,” he said, highlighting Zen’s proprietary intellectual property, secured through 160 global and Indian patents.
Zen’s four-barrel rotary machine gun, showcased at Aero India 2025, further bolsters its anti-drone arsenal. With a fire rate of up to 3,500 rounds per minute and a variable rate down to 900 for optimized ammunition use, this system is engineered for high-intensity combat, including anti-drone operations. Atluri stressed its role in providing a cost-effective hard-kill solution, critical when facing swarms of low-cost drones designed to overwhelm defenses.
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