Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Defence
Why in News?
Recently, Army was given a demonstration of Bhargavastra, an indigenous counter‑swarm drone system developed under the Make‑II programme.
Bhargavastra system –
- It is mounted on a vehicle and integrates
- A Command-and-Control Vehicle (equipped with radar)
- Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors and
- Passive radio-frequency detectors (linked through a network).
- Alongside, a launcher vehicle carries multiple launch tubes.
- Developed by – Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd. (SDAL)
- C4I Suite – Generates real‑time air picture, issues alerts, assigns targets, initiates firing sequence.
C4 – Command, Control, Communications, Computers; I – Intelligence
- Detection Range – Large UAVs up to 10 km, smaller drones up to 6 km.
- Operational Terrain – Designed for deserts to high‑altitude regions (>5,000 m).
- Kill Mechanism
- Dual Layered
- Unguided micro‑rockets (lethal radius – 20 m).
- Precision‑guided micro‑missiles (intercepts up to 2.5 km).
- Soft Kill – Electronic jamming for non‑kinetic neutralisation.
Hard-Kill (Kinetic) – Unguided rockets + precision-guided missiles
- Resilience – Resistant to conventional Electronic-Warfare measures like jamming.
- Architecture – Multi‑layer engagement neutralises both individual drones and swarms.
- Cost‑Effective – Cheaper alternative to expensive surface‑to‑air missiles against low‑cost drones.
- Integration – Seamless with armed forces’ existing networks.
- Unique Feature – Fully integrated, vehicle‑mounted platform with swarm neutralisation not yet deployed elsewhere.
Reference
TOI | Bhargavastra
