Indigenous Shield: Army and IAF Set to Deploy 16 Anti-Drone Systems with 2-km Laser Interception

New Delhi, 18 November 2025 – The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of 16 advanced indigenous counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) equipped with high-energy lasers capable of hard-kill interception up to 2 km and soft-kill capability beyond 5 km, in a project valued at over ₹556 crore that marks a major milestone in India’s layered air-defence architecture.

The systems, developed under a DRDO–private industry consortium led by Tonbo Imaging and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), will be deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan by late 2027, delivering a rapid, cost-effective and all-weather response to the exponential rise in drone threats facing Indian forces.

The Escalating Drone Menace on India’s Borders

The past 24 months have witnessed a dramatic surge in hostile drone activity. Pakistani-origin quadcopters and fixed-wing UAVs have attempted over 450 weapon and narcotic drops across the Punjab–J&K border since January 2024, while Chinese civilian-pattern drones continue to probe Indian positions along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. As detailed in our continuing coverage of Pakistan’s escalating drone warfare tactics in 2025, the threat has evolved from mere surveillance to coordinated swarm attacks carrying explosives and ISR payloads.

These incidents are no longer isolated. The Indian Army units have reported multiple attempts by PLA-affiliated units to use commercial DJI-type drones for real-time battlefield intelligence during the ongoing stand-off. The need for a robust, indigenously controlled counter-drone envelope has never been more urgent.

System Architecture: A True Multi-Layer, Multi-Spectral Killer

The approved C-UAS is a fully integrated, vehicle-mounted system built around four core pillars:

• Multi-sensor detection suite (3D active phased-array radar + passive RF detector + EO/IR panoramic cameras from Tonbo Imaging)
• High-energy directional laser (10–15 kW class) for hard kill up to 2 km (destructively burns drone electronics, motors, or payload)
• Broadband RF jammer and GNSS spoofing module for soft kill out to 5+ km
• Optional kinetic interceptor (micro-missile/net gun) for high-value or laser-resistant targets

The laser module, developed by DRDO’s Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) in collaboration with Tonbo Imaging and Big Bang Boom Solutions, uses a fibre-laser source that can dwell on a target for 3–8 seconds to achieve physical destruction. Trials conducted in Pokhran (August 2025) and Leh (October 2025) demonstrated 92% hard-kill success against Group-1 and Group-2 drones (<25 kg) at ranges between 800 m and 2.1 km, even under high-wind and low-visibility conditions.

Unlike imported systems that rely predominantly on jamming, this Indian solution offers genuine hard-kill capability at a fraction of the cost of missile-based interceptors, making it ideal for sustained operations along 3,488 km of contested borders.

Private Sector Leadership: Tonbo Imaging Takes Centre Stage

Tonbo Imaging, the prime integrator, has emerged as the surprise leader in this programme. Known previously for its advanced optronics (used in Bharani radar, Arjun night sights, and Nag missile seekers), Tonbo has delivered the complete EO/IR cueing and fire-control system. The company’s Bharani-II panoramic thermal imager and Staring IR Search & Track (IRST) module provide 360° coverage and automatic threat classification in under 4 seconds.

BEL provides the vehicle platform integration, command & control shelter, and the high-power microwave (HPM) backup module. iDEX winner Zen Technologies has contributed the AI-based threat evaluation and response algorithm that has significantly reduced operator workload and false alarms. This public-private partnership model mirrors the successful template seen in our earlier coverage of Samanvay 2025 technology transfers.

Deployment Roadmap: Prioritising the Most Vulnerable Sectors

Eight systems will go to the Indian Army for deployment in Eastern Ladakh (3), Northern Sikkim (2), and Arunachal Pradesh (3), with the remaining eight allocated to the Indian Air Force for protection of forward air bases at Leh, Thoise, Nyoma, Bagdogra, Hasimara, and Chabua.

Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) is expected by September 2026, with full delivery by December 2027. The Army has already identified specific high-threat corridors — including the Depsang Plains, Galwan Valley approaches, and the Pangong Tso sector — where these systems will be co-located with existing Akash-NG and QRSAM batteries to create a true layered defence bubble.

The integration architecture allows seamless networking with the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and the Army’s Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS), enabling automatic cueing from higher-tier radars such as the Ashwini LLTR and Project Kusha’s multi-function radars (detailed in our Project Kusha analysis).

Strategic Impact: From Reactive to Deniable Area Denial

These 16 systems represent only the first tranche. The Army has already projected a requirement for 75–100 additional units over the next five years. When combined with the recently unveiled DRDO ‘Jishnu’ loitering munition for offensive counter-drone roles and the SAMAR-2 air-defence system created from repurposed R-27 missiles, India is building a comprehensive drone warfare ecosystem that spans detection, soft kill, hard kill, and counter-attack.

Cost-wise, each system is priced at approximately ₹34–36 crore — roughly one-third the cost of comparable Israeli or American laser-based C-UAS. This affordability enables saturation deployment and positions India to become a major exporter in the rapidly growing $15-billion global counter-drone market.

Operational Lessons and Future Evolution

The system’s performance during the recent Exercise Dakshin Shakti 2025 in the Thar desert, where it successfully neutralised 38 out of 40 simulated swarm attacks, has validated the design. Future upgrades already in the pipeline include a 30 kW laser module (extending hard-kill range to 4–5 km) and integration with swarm-capable counter-munitions for dealing with saturated attacks.

Sources indicate that a naval variant for protecting aircraft carriers and Delhi-class destroyers against drone boats and aerial threats is under parallel development, with GRSE and DRDO.

Conclusion: Closing the Vulnerability Window

The approval of these 16 laser-based counter-drone systems is not merely a procurement decision — it is a strategic statement. In an era where a $800 DJI drone can threaten a ₹150 crore tank or radar site, India has chosen to close that asymmetric gap with indigenous technology, private-sector innovation, and ruthless cost-effectiveness.

By 2028, the combination of directed-energy weapons, networked sensors, and offensive loitering munitions will make Indian forward positions among the most difficult airspace in the world to penetrate by unmanned systems. For adversaries relying on cheap drone swarms to offset conventional disadvantages, the message from New Delhi is clear: the window of vulnerability is closing — fast.