India has awarded contracts worth 2.89 billion rupees ($32.5 million) to Zen Technologies for upgrading its anti-drone defense systems.
The company is expected to complete the upgrades within a year, drawing on lessons from frontline operations such as Operation Sindoor, a counterterrorism campaign conducted in Jammu and Kashmir in May.
The upgrades are intended to boost hardware and software adaptability—areas where imported systems often fall short due to export restrictions and vendor dependencies. They will address two major vulnerabilities: physical system compromise and malware-based cyber threats.
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), together with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), has designed the D4 system, which integrates radar, RF sensors, electro-optical/infrared cameras, jammers, and laser-based directed-energy weapons.
The D4 platform supports both mobile and stationary configurations, ensuring quick deployment across all branches of the armed forces.
In February 2025, Adani Defence & Aerospace and DRDO introduced a vehicle-mounted counter-drone solution combining radar, SIGINT/EO sensors, jammers, a 7.62-mm gun, and a high-energy laser. With mobility and coverage of up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), it provides protection across diverse terrains.
Private firms such as Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited are also developing indigenous technologies like the Bhargavastra micro-missile anti-drone system, designed to intercept loitering munitions and drone swarms.
Together, these developments highlight India’s expanding capacity to counter advanced drone threats beyond commercial UAVs.
