The Indian Army is currently assessing a proposal to significantly upgrade its fleet of Kalyani M4 armoured vehicles, transforming the infantry carriers into specialised mobile units capable of countering aerial threats.
This initiative aims to equip the high-mobility, mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles with automated systems to detect, track, and destroy hostile drones, specifically along high-altitude borders and forward areas.
Strategic Shift for Northern Command
According to sources familiar with the development, the Army’s Directorate of Mechanised Forces and the Northern Command have expressed a strong interest in this project.The objective is to convert the rugged M4 platform into a mobile air defence node. This move addresses the growing concern over small and medium-sized unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which have become a persistent danger to ground troops in contested airspace.
Indigenous Engineering and Protection
The Kalyani M4 is manufactured in India by Bharat Forge under the Kalyani Strategic Systems brand. It is a licensed and customised version of the Mbombe 4, originally designed by South Africa's Paramount Group.The Indian variant has been re-engineered to suit local operational needs, featuring a superior power-to-weight ratio and specific cold-start capabilities essential for the freezing winters of Ladakh.
Despite these modifications, the vehicle retains its formidable protection standards. It offers STANAG Level 4B protection against mines and Level 3A/B ballistic shielding, ensuring crew safety against blasts and small arms fire.
Advanced Counter-Drone Capabilities
The proposed upgrade involves fitting the standard M4 with a comprehensive, layered anti-drone suite.This package would include a mast-mounted sensor array comprising passive Radio Frequency (RF) detectors, electro-optical/infrared trackers, and compact 3D radar systems, all integrated into an indigenous battle management system.
For neutralising threats ('hard-kill'), the vehicle is expected to carry a robust arsenal:
- A 7.62 mm coaxial light machine gun utilising smart air-burst ammunition.
- A 40 mm automatic grenade launcher with proximity-fused rounds.
- A high-calibre multi-barrel cannon optimised for rapid fire against Group 1 and Group 2 drones.
Additionally, the suite includes 'soft-kill' electronic warfare modules, such as directional jammers and laser dazzlers, providing non-kinetic options when required.
Force Multiplier on Wheels
A key advantage of this proposal is its modular nature. The counter-drone system is designed as a retrofit package, meaning it can be installed on both new vehicles and those already in service.This would allow units such as the Rashtriya Rifles and Assam Rifles, currently deployed in Jammu & Kashmir and along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), to upgrade their fleets without sending vehicles back to depots for major structural work.
Senior officials have reportedly described the concept as a "force multiplier on wheels". It is expected to be particularly vital for protecting convoys, quick-reaction teams, and road-opening parties, which face increasing risks from drone-dropped explosives.
By enabling high-mobility platforms to autonomously detect and counter aerial threats, the Army aims to neutralise the asymmetric advantage adversaries currently hold through the use of commercial and weaponised drones.
