Indian Army begins induction of indigenous 'Saksham' counter-UAS grid to boost air defence

Developed by BEL, the new systems will ensure complete control on the tactical battlefield space by the ground forces allowing unrestricted movement of friendly aerial assets while detecting, tracking and neutralising hostile drones or aircraft.

New Delhi: Four months after Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army has begun procuring an indigenous counter-UAS grid system to keep the air littoral – airspace up to 3,000 mt above the ground – free from hostile unmanned aerial systems all along the frontier.

Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) the new systems will ensure complete control on the tactical battlefield space by the ground forces allowing unrestricted movement of friendly aerial assets while detecting, tracking and neutralising hostile drones or aircraft.

“Every battalion deployed along the border will be having these systems. We can’t divulge the exact details, but a very large number of these systems are being procured,” an official said.

Being purchased through a fast-track route, all the field formations are likely to get the counter-UAS system within the next one year.

During the Indo-Pak hostilities in May, Indian military establishments on the western front and a few civilian areas were targeted by the Pakistan Army, which sent waves of drones across the border. While all of them were neutralised by the Indian forces, the necessity for a comprehensive counter-UAS framework also emerged from that operation.

Subsequently the Indian Army evolved its operational concept from its earlier tactical battle area to the more inclusive tactical battlefield space recognising that future wars would be fought not just on land but also in the airspace above it, sources said.

The SAKSHAM (Situational Awareness for Kinetic Soft and Hard kill Assets Management) system is a high-end modular command and control system that will recognise the unmanned aerial systems of the enemy and carry out threat analysis using artificial intelligence for a quick decision making.

It will also receive inputs from the existing Akashteer system to further enhance the situational awareness by mapping every airspace user – friendly, neutral or hostile within the combat zone.The system incorporates AI-driven fusion technologies for future combat systems, enabling scalability and upgradation as threat environments evolve.“

Once operational, Saksham will serve as the backbone of the Indian Army’s counter-UAS grid, giving commanders a unified picture of both ground and aerial threats in the tactical battlefield space. It will enhance decision-making speed, ensure rapid engagement and secure control over the air-littoral, protecting troops and infrastructure from aerial incursions,” an official said.