The 100-hour India-Pakistan ‘war’ Operation Sindoor, in which Nagastra-1 and other drones were used, saw the emergence of a major milestone in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in national security, demonstrating the country’s growing technological and operational capabilities in countering asymmetric warfare.
In the wake of the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22, the Indian Armed Forces responded with precision and strategic restraint, targeting terrorist infrastructure without crossing the Line of Control or international boundaries.
Pakistan made multiple attempts to target military installations across northern and western India, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj, using drones and missiles.
However, India’s Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Grid and Air Defence mechanisms effectively neutralised Pakistan’s attempts. The network of radars, control centres, low-level air defence guns, and both ground- and aircraft-launched missiles formed a coordinated and impenetrable shield, ensuring minimal damage.
In retaliation, on the morning of May 8, Indian armed forces targeted and disabled several Pakistani air defence systems, including a radar site in Lahore. This marked a significant operational success, achieved without loss of Indian assets. Indigenous systems, particularly the Akash Surface-to-Air Missile system, played a crucial role in neutralising threats. Designed to protect strategic locations from aerial attacks, the Akash system operated effectively in both autonomous and group modes, with the ability to simultaneously engage multiple targets. The system, fully mounted on mobile platforms, includes advanced electronic counter-countermeasure capabilities.
Operation Sindoor spotlighted the Indian military’s potent synergy – tactical astuteness wed to advanced air defence systems comparable to Israel’s famed ‘Iron Dome’. The spotlight has also been on homegrown elements in that network, including the Akash missile defence system.
The Drone Federation of India represents over 550 companies and 5,500 drone pilots. Indian companies such as Alpha Design Technologies, Tata Advanced Systems, Paras Defence & Space Technologies, and IG Drones are at the forefront of defence-focused drone innovation
The armed forces have also tested Bhargavastra – a new, low-cost, counter-drone system in ‘hard kill’ mode. The micro-rockets used in this system underwent rigorous testing at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur in Odisha and the test met all objectives.
Dr Prahlada Ramarao, a former Defence Research and Development Organisation scientist developed the Akash system that stopped Pak missiles. Dr Ramarao says in his tagline for Akash, ‘Sara Akash Hamara’ (the whole sky is ours).
In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pushed for greater domestic production of defence equipment, arguing it is the only long-term solution. The Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) of the Indian Air Force provided the backbone for real-time coordination, enabling synchronised responses across multiple units of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Loitering Munitions: Suicide Drones
India’s offensive operations saw the effective deployment of loitering munitions, also known as ‘suicide drones’, to target high-value Pakistani assets, including airbases at Noor Khan and Rahimyar Khan. These precision strikes were completed within 23 minutes, highlighting the efficacy of India’s surveillance, planning, and jamming technologies, which successfully bypassed Chinese-origin Pakistani air defence systems.
Following the operation, the Indian armed forces recovered debris from neutralised equipment, including Chinese-origin PL-15 missiles, Turkish-origin UAVs, long-range rockets, quadcopters, and commercial drones, showcasing India’s ability to counter advanced foreign-supplied weaponry with indigenous air defence and electronic warfare systems.
The success of Operation Sindoor reflects the growing strength of India’s drone ecosystem. The Drone Federation of India (DFI), representing over 550 companies and 5,500 drone pilots, has played a key role in promoting indigenous development, manufacturing, and deployment of drone and counter-drone technologies. Indian companies such as Alpha Design Technologies, Tata Advanced Systems, Paras Defence & Space Technologies, and IG Drones are at the forefront of defence-focused drone innovation.
The Indian drone market is expected to grow to $11 billion by 2030, representing over 12% of the global share. This growth has been supported by policy reforms, including the 2021 ban on imported drones and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drone and component manufacturing. The PLI scheme, with an outlay of ₹120 crore across three financial years, has accelerated domestic C and industrial output.
The Nagastra can hover over a designated area, identifying and locking onto targets before launching a precise attack, even mid-flight. Its advanced capabilities include day-and-night surveillance cameras and a ground control station equipped with communication modules and a pneumatic launcher
Nagastra Drones: Loitering Munition
The Nagastra is a type of ‘loitering munition’. This implies that it can hover over a designated area, identifying and locking onto targets before launching a precise attack, even mid-flight. The drone boasts a powerful 1 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead designed to effectively neutralise soft-skin targets. Its advanced capabilities include day and night surveillance cameras and a ground control station equipped with communication modules and a pneumatic launcher.
The Nagastra-1 is designed for portability, consisting of a man-portable system that weighs around 30 kg, conveniently split into two rucksacks for easy field deployment. These drones are reusable. If a mission is aborted or a target is not identified, the Nagastra-1 is designed to return to base and land safely using a parachute recovery mechanism. Solar Industries is the manufacturer of industrial explosives for the mining and infrastructure sector. The company offers industrial explosives and defence products.
The use of Nagastra drones, manufactured by Solar Industries, in Operation Sindoor saw the company’s stock hit a record high. The attack on air force bases, which left Pakistan stunned and helpless, comprised operations of loitering munitions such as Nagastra drones and Warmate. Nagastra drones are made by Nagpur-based Solar Industries and Bengaluru-based ZMotion.
Solar Industries manufactured these drones through its subsidiary Economic Explosives Limited (EEL). Solar Industries delivered the first batch of 480 Nagastra-1 loitering munitions with over 75 per cent indigenous content to the Indian Army in June last year.
Bhargavastra is a multi-layered counter-drone platform. Its integrated Command-and-Control Centre offers real-time situational awareness. It can be linked to India’s broader defence networks, making it viable for network-centric warfare. Its radar system can detect medium to large UAVs up to 10 km away
Bhargavastra: Drone Killer System
India’s low-cost drone killer system Bhargavastra is set to reshape future air defences. Tested recently at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur, the system is hailed as a game-changer in addressing the growing challenge of drone swarms. India took a significant leap in its counter-drone warfare capabilities with the successful testing of Bhargavastra, an anti-drone system developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL).
The Bhargavastra system uses guided micro-munitions capable of destroying small and incoming drones at a range of up to 2.5 km, with radar detection extending up to 6 km. In its field trials, the system successfully executed single and salvo-mode launches, achieving all target parameters. What sets Bhargavastra apart is its adaptability. The system is engineered for deployment across India’s diverse geographies, from desert plains to high-altitude mountain regions up to 5,000 metres. It is effective against autonomous drone swarms, which are often resistant to electronic jamming or spoofing.
Bhargavastra is a multi-layered counter-drone platform. Its integrated Command-and-Control Centre comes with advanced C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) systems, offering real-time situational awareness. It can be linked to India’s broader defence networks, making it viable for network-centric warfare. Its radar system can detect medium to large UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) up to 10 km away, while its Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) capabilities allow precise detection of low RCS (Radar Cross-Section) targets, often used in stealth drone attacks.
– The writer is a senior journalist and media consultant. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda.
