India Successfully Tests Indigenous Counter-Drone System Bhargavastra
Three trials were conducted for the rocket at Gopalpur on 13th May 2025 in presence of senior officials of Indian Army.
Bhubaneswar: On the back of the successful counter-attack on Pakistani drones during Op. Sindoor, India successfully tested yet another homegrown counter-drone system, the Bhargavastra. The new system is being described as a “cost-effective, hard-kill system designed to neutralise hostile drones using multiple micro-rockets.”
The system, which offers both detection and engagement capabilities, demonstrated its firepower during two trials conducted on May 13, with one rocket fired in each test.
The test was carried out at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur, Odisha. The system has been developed by the Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd (SDAL).
Capable of identifying and neutralising small, incoming drones within a range of 2.5 km, Bhargavastra employs a two-layered defence strategy. The first layer involves unguided micro-rockets, designed to disrupt drone swarms within a 20-metre lethal radius. The second layer features guided micro-missiles, already validated in earlier tests, for precision targeting of individual drones.
Built for rapid deployment across varied terrains, including high-altitude regions above 5,000 metres, the system is tailored to support the diverse operational needs of India’s armed forces.
Highlighting its versatility and indigenous innovation, SDAL noted that Bhargavastra’s fully modular design allows for the optional addition of a soft-kill layer for jamming and spoofing, complementing its kinetic strike capability. The system is also engineered for seamless integration with India’s existing network-centric warfare infrastructure, enhancing its role in modern battlefield scenarios.
