Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) has unveiled ‘Bhargavastra’, a new low-cost hard kill counter-drone system, marking a significant advancement in India’s ability to combat the growing threat of drone swarms.
The system’s micro-rockets recently underwent rigorous testing at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur on May 13, 2025, in the presence of senior officials from Army Air Defence (AAD).
During the trials, three test firings were conducted: two involved the launch of a single rocket each, while the third demonstrated salvo mode, launching two rockets within a 2-second window. All four rockets met or exceeded performance expectations, validating their design and operational capability.
Bhargavastra is engineered to detect and neutralise small, fast-moving drones at distances of up to 2.5 kilometers. Its two-tiered defence mechanism includes an initial layer of unguided micro-rockets with a 20-metre lethal radius, ideal for swarm neutralisation, followed by guided micro-missiles – previously tested – to deliver precise targeting against individual threats.
Tailored for rapid deployment across varied terrain, including high-altitude regions above 5,000 meters, Bhargavastra is designed to meet the operational demands of the Indian armed forces, offering a robust and scalable solution to evolving aerial threats.
