Editor’s Note
This article reports on India’s successful test of the indigenous ‘Bhargavastra’ anti-drone system. The claims regarding the system’s capabilities and its named operational targets originate from the source material.
Following Operation Sindoor, India has successfully tested ‘Bhargavastra’. This indigenous weapon will decimate drones from enemy countries, including China, Pakistan, and Türkiye, right in the sky. It is primarily designed to neutralize drone attacks.
Bhargavastra is India’s first indigenously developed micro missile system. Recently, India disrupted Pakistan’s peace through Operation Sindoor, eliminating hundreds of terrorists. India’s unparalleled weapons played a crucial role in this, with the S-400 being a prime example. Concurrently, India has successfully tested its first domestically built micro missile system, ‘Bhargavastra’, designed to counter swarm drone attacks.
Bhargavastra is designed for deployment in diverse terrains, including areas at altitudes over 5000 meters above sea level. This hard-kill mode counter-drone system was developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL). Its first test has been successful. The system is capable of responding to drone attacks using micro-rockets.
Three rocket tests were conducted on May 13, 2025, in Gopalpur, Odisha, in the presence of senior Army Air Defence (AAD) officers. According to a report by news agency ANI, two tests were conducted by firing one rocket each. Another test was conducted in salvo mode, firing two rockets within two seconds. The report states that all rockets performed as expected. All micro-rockets in the system hit their designated targets, making the mission a success. This system is a major achievement in preventing drone attacks.
Bhargavastra is designed for deployment in diverse terrains, including areas at altitudes over 5000 meters above sea level. It will prove highly effective in countering the tactics employed by Pakistan, China, and Türkiye during Operation Sindoor.
‘Bhargavastra’ is a low-cost anti-drone system. It operates in ‘hard kill’ mode, meaning it can directly destroy drones. After Operation Sindoor, there were several attempts by Pakistan to attack India’s border areas using drones. However, our anti-drone systems thwarted them. With the increasing threat of drone attacks nowadays, this system can prove extremely effective. This anti-drone system can detect drones equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, radar, and RF receivers from a distance of 6 to 10 kilometers. Furthermore, Bhargavastra can destroy drones at a distance of 2.5 km, with a lethal radius of 20 meters.