In a significant advancement for India's indigenous defence capabilities, the Solar Group has officially presented the complete, vehicle-mounted version of its Bhargavastra counter-drone system.
Mounted for the first time on a versatile 4x4 light truck, the system is designed to provide the Indian armed forces with a highly mobile and rapid solution to neutralize hostile drone activities across difficult landscapes.
The Bhargavastra system successfully underwent rigorous testing at the Gopalpur Seaward Firing Ranges on January 12 and 13, 2025. During these trials, the system effectively engaged virtual aerial targets at distances exceeding 2.5 kilometres.
This demonstrated its potential as a cost-effective and reliable defence against the growing threat of coordinated drone attacks, often referred to as swarm drones.
Developed by Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL), a subsidiary of the Solar Group, the Bhargavastra operates with a multi-layered defence strategy.
It can launch unguided rockets to disable large groups of drones over a wide area and fire precision-guided micro-missiles to eliminate specific, high-priority targets. This dual capability makes it a versatile tool against various aerial threats.
The system's advanced radar is capable of detecting small drones from over 6 kilometres away and identifying larger unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at a range of up to 10 kilometres.
A key feature of the Bhargavastra is its exceptional mobility. The 4x4 light truck platform allows for quick deployment and repositioning, a critical requirement for operations in varied terrains, including high-altitude border regions up to 5,000 meters.
At the core of its operations is a sophisticated Command-and-Control Centre integrated with modern C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) technology. This provides operators with comprehensive real-time battlefield awareness.
The system is further enhanced with an Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor, which can detect drones with a low Radar Cross-Section (RCS), making it effective against small or "stealthy" threats that are difficult for standard radar to track.
The successful validation of the system, which was witnessed by senior military officials, marks a major achievement for India's "Make in India" initiative in the defence sector.
By providing a more affordable alternative to traditional and costly surface-to-air missile systems, Bhargavastra addresses an urgent security need.
As drone technology continues to evolve and pose challenges along India's borders, this indigenously developed system represents a new and powerful asset in the nation's air defence strategy, with strong potential for future export to international markets.
